Exploring the influence of perceived extroversion in embodied virtual agents on trust and likability

Abstract Embodied virtual agents (EVAs) are beginning to be researched to improve human–computer interaction. As EVAs become increasingly integrated into various aspects of daily life, understanding how to optimize their design to foster trust and likability among users is paramount. Leveraging insights from social psychology, particularly the concept of homophily, this study investigates the impact of perceived personality traits on user perceptions of EVAs. Specifically, we explore whether aligning the personality traits of EVAs with those of users increases engagement and fosters positive interactions. Drawing on a sample of 382 participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, we assessed participants' personality traits using the Big Five Inventory—2S, while the perceived extroversion of the agent was manipulated through facial expressions and body posture. Our findings suggest that participants were able to accurately identify the perceived extroversion of the agent ( p = .014), and significant results indicate a homophily effect on trust, with participants exhibiting greater trust in agents perceived as having a similar level of extroversion ( p < .01). However, no significant effect on likability was detected, suggesting a more nuanced relationship between perceived personality traits and user preferences. These findings highlight the potential of leveraging homophily in designing more engaging EVAs and underscore the importance of considering user–agent compatibility in human–computer interaction.