The impact of virtual scenarios on empathy: a user study on the role of empathic abilities and environmental context in emotional facial expression replication

The present study examines the interaction between users’ empathic abilities and their skill in replicating the emotional facial expressions of an avatar in different virtual contexts. A total of N = 31 participants were involved, each immersed in three distinct virtual scenarios (Sadness, Joy, and Activation) designed to evoke specific emotional states. Participants, equipped with Meta Quest Pro headsets featuring facial tracking sensors, were instructed to imitate a sad facial expression displayed by a virtual avatar. Empathic tendencies were assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The results indicate that the time required to replicate the sad expression varied based on individual empathic abilities and the characteristics of the virtual environment: participants tended to imitate the avatar’s facial expression more quickly in the "Sadness" scenario and more slowly in the "Activation" scenario. Furthermore, two affective dimensions of empathy Empathic Concern and Personal Distress emerged as significant predictors of participants’ response times. Specifically, individuals with higher Empathic Concern scores were faster in replicating the avatar’s sad expression in the "Joy" scenario. In comparison, higher Personal Distress scores were only associated with shorter response times in the "Sadness" scenario. These findings highlight the importance of environmental characteristics in virtual environments that foster more effective emotional and empathic interactions.