Virtual reality has often been referred to as an “empathy machine,” suggesting that its increased immersion can trigger heightened compassion.
- For example: In 2018, Stanford researchers found that study participants who watched a 7-minute VR experience about homelessness developed longer-lasting empathy than those who engaged with the same topic via other media forms.
Crying over fake animals
Recently, reporter Becca Warner wrote that a VR experience from Habitat XR made her cry. It featured a pangolin who, due to climate change, starved to death.
- Habitat XR founder Ulrico Grech-Cumbo said that the company’s nature-centered experiences commonly make even “high net worth individuals” at fancy fundraisers shed a tear.
- Previous studies have found participants are more likely to sign petitions or engage in conservation practices after watching a VR experience on the environment.
Alice Chirico, a psychologist who studies VR, told the BBC that nature experiences induce a sense of awe at its vastness, which supports a “sense of attachment towards the environment.”
That’s all very nice, but…
… others have argued VR doesn’t actually work as an empathy machine — it’s too short, too limited, can be ended at any time, and, despite even serious messaging, it’s often too fun. It also requires great visuals.
But while we can’t strap people “Black Mirror”-style into bleak VR experiences they can’t escape, some startups aim to enhance the tech’s realism.
- Haptic gloves, sleeves, vests, backpacks, and other devices can vibrate to simulate touch, including impact and movement. There are 73 haptic tech startups in the US.
- Other startups are developing devices that allow users to smell or even taste while in VR.
That said, studies have also found that while VR nature is better than no nature, it can’t fully replicate the benefits we receive from being outdoors — so perhaps any medium that gets people to care about preserving nature is beneficial.
