Exploring the Effects of Fantasy Level of Avatars on User Perception and Behavior

Embodying avatars in virtual reality (VR) has transformed human experiences, such as in medicine and education. However, there is limited information about users’ self-identifications and perceptions of highly fantastical avatars. This pilot study explored the impact of avatar types of low and high fantasy levels on adults’ perceptions and behaviors. Participants (N = 18) engaged in a VR experience with either a human or blue Muppet avatar to complete body movement tasks, a cube-touching game, and free-form exploration. Findings showed that participants in the high fantasy avatar condition reported higher identification with their avatar and more interest in social-emotional activities relative to the low fantasy human avatar condition. Across both conditions, participants stood extremely close to the virtual mirror. Additionally, we report on participants preferences and priorities for their future avatars. This offers insights for future research on avatar design, with implications for more engaging VR experience.