Yuki Minamii (Graduate School of Design)’s paper has been accepted for Computers in Human Behavior Reports.
Congratulations!
Authors
Yuki Minamii, Zhengyan Li, Chen (Crystal) Chen
Affiliation
Graduate School of Design, Department of Design
Manuscript Title
Revisiting the Proteus Effect: Perceived anonymity reinforces self-identity in women’s exercise in social VR
Abstract
Immersive virtual reality (IVR) fitness gyms may help women overcome psychological barriers common in traditional gyms, often through the Proteus Effect, the tendency for avatar appearance to shape behavior. The Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE) assumes that anonymity heightens avatar-identity salience, producing conformity; this may not hold in social VR, where speaking and being observed keep users’ own identity salient alongside the avatar’s. In this study, female participants embodied a muscular male avatar and exercised in an IVR gym under camera-on and camera-off conditions. Camera presence did not affect exercise self-efficacy, dumbbell weight, or perceived exertion, though self-efficacy increased overall. Interviews revealed three types of factors: some pushed participants toward the avatar’s identity (e.g., avatar similarity), others pulled them back toward their own (e.g., increased psychological distance, prior VR/exercise experience, task familiarity), and others raised exercise effort regardless of identity (co-actor presence, gym environment). Notably, anonymity reinforced self-identity rather than avatar conformity (counter to SIDE) and behavioral change occurred even when the avatar was perceived as separate from the self. We integrate these findings into a four-loci framework (subject, avatar, platform, social environment) extending Proteus Effect and SIDE theory in IVR exercise and informing inclusive virtual fitness design.
Journal name
Computers in Human Behavior Reports
Relevant SDGs
SDGs 3(Good health and well-being）
Comments
I sincerely thank everyone who supported this study.
