Human nature in a virtual world: The attribution of mind perception to avatars

This study investigates how human resemblance in avatars shapes mind perception. Virtual worlds are often praised for their potential to transform how people collaborate, learn, and play. Yet this promise relies on our willingness to treat others in a genuinely human way. Mind perception theory defines humanness along two dimensions: agency (intentional action) and experience (capacity to feel). While prior work has examined mind perception across entities, little is known about whether this extends to avatars, particularly when individuals embody forms that differ in kind and in their degree of anatomical humanlikeness. Using a mixed-methods approach, 213 participants created 417 avatars and rated them on perceived agency and experience. Afterward, the avatars were content-analyzed to determine entity type and visual resemblance to human anatomy, distinguishing between sensory (e.g., eyes, skin) and motoric (e.g., limbs) human-like features. The results demonstrate that human and robot avatars were perceived as equally agentic, surpassing other avatar entity types, while human, animal, and fantasy avatars shared similar levels of experience. Moreover, sensory human-like features were more strongly associated with both agency and experience than motoric features. This may be due to the dual function of sensory features: signaling not only the capacity for action (e.g., speaking) but also serving as expressive cues of emotion (e.g., facial expressions). This study contributes theoretically by integrating mind perception theory with avatar research, advancing our understanding of how digital representations shape social cognition. In practice, the findings underscore the need for intentional avatar design, particularly regarding default representations. • Human resemblance in avatars can influence mind perception • Some avatars are judged less human than others on agency and experience • Humanoid and robotic avatars are attributed equal agency but differ in experience • Humanoid, animalistic and fantasy avatars are attributed similar experience • Sensory human-like features relate more to mind perception than motoric features