Can Virtual Reality Change Minds?

Abstract

This study investigates how immersive journalism delivered through virtual reality may shape audience responses toward refugees by activating affective and cognitive mechanisms associated with behavioral response. Drawing on four focus group sessions with a total of thirty two participants in Northern Cyprus, the research compares the empathic engagement and evaluative reflections associated with a 360 degree VR documentary with those produced through a traditional 2D viewing format. Participants who experienced the content in VR reported a heightened sense of presence, emotional proximity, and perspective taking, which corresponded with a positive change in their views toward refugees. In contrast, those who watched the same content in 2D expressed emotional discomfort yet generally did not describe a notable attitudinal shift, suggesting that non-immersive viewing maintains psychological distancing and reinforces pre-existing beliefs. The findings indicate that immersive journalism can operate as a technological catalyst for short-term attitudinal reorientation in politically sensitive contexts, particularly by eliciting embodied emotional responses that traditional formats struggle to generate. Although the study is limited by its small sample size and reliance on self-reported reflections, it contributes to the growing body of evidence that immersive media hold behavioral and perceptual relevance for journalism practice, audience engagement, and the broader public understanding of marginalized populations.