Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used to simulate encounters with avatars representing different social groups, aiming to reduce intergroup prejudice. This approach is informed by the Common Ingroup Identity Model (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2014) and the Dual Identity Model (Gonzales & Brown, 2003), which suggest that avatars must be perceived as outgroup members for recategorization to occur, mimicking real-world intergroup contact. However, the assumption that avatars with outgroup features are automatically categorized as belonging to a different group has not been empirically validated. Understanding how avatars are perceived in VR is crucial for refining applied interventions where avatars elicit meaningful social responses.
In two within-subjects studies, we explored this process using a 2 (ethnicity: Black vs. White) × 2 (numerosity: individual vs. group) × 2 (stereotypicality: neutral vs. culturally marked) factorial design. Participants, all Caucasian, viewed avatars representing the ingroup (White avatars) and the outgroup (Black avatars). In Study 1 (N = 68), participants saw two-dimensional avatar screenshots, while in Study 2 (N = 85), they experienced avatars in immersive VR, enhancing the ecological validity. After each exposure, participants categorized the avatars, and data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression, with outgroup as the reference category.
Both studies revealed a significant three-way interaction. In Study 1, Black-avatar conditions increased the likelihood of outgroup categorization, with the Black-Group-Stereotypical configuration showing the strongest effect. In Study 2, only the Black-Group-Stereotypical condition significantly increased outgroup categorization.
These findings highlight the importance of visual cues in immersive VR for triggering outgroup perceptions. From an applied perspective, these insights are valuable for designing VR interventions to reduce prejudice, improve social integration, and promote inclusivity, enhancing VR's potential as a tool for social change.