Towards Understanding Harassment in Social Virtual Reality: A Study Design on the Impact of Avatar Self-Similarity

In social virtual reality (VR), harassment persists as a pervasive and critical issue. Prior work emphasizes its perceived realness and emotional impact. However, the influence of avatar design, particularly the role of self-similarity, remains underexplored. Self-similar avatars can enhance user identification and engagement, yet potentially intensify the psychological and physiological effects of harassment. Existing studies often rely on interviews or user-generated content, lacking systematic analysis and controlled comparisons. To address these gaps, we present a process for creating realistic VR harassment scenarios. We built a scenario based on existing literature and validated it with expert reviews and user feedback. We propose a 2 × 2 between-subjects design to systematically examine users’ emotional and physiological states, their identification with avatars, and the effects of avatar self-similarity. The study design will deepen the understanding of harassment dynamics in VR. Additionally, it can provide actionable insights for designing safer, more inclusive virtual environments that promote user well-being and foster equitable communities.