Understanding the Potential of Virtual Reality in Transformative Experiences: the Role of Epistemic Expansion and Positive Emotions

Abstract Transformative experiences (TEs) are brief and profound experiences that can lead to significant changes in self-perception and emotional understanding. Recent literature suggests that immersive virtual reality (VR), through its properties such as sensory immersion and sense of presence, can be a powerful tool to elicit TEs. This experimental study aimed to investigate the transformative potential of a VR-TE compared to a traditional media-based TE (audio-TE) on epistemic expansion (broadening one’s understanding) and positive emotions (PEs). The role of individual differences, such as mindful attention, engagement with beauty, and gender, was also explored. Seventy-eight young adults from Italy and Spain, aged 18–30, were randomly assigned to either a VR or audio-TE condition. The VR-TE group experienced a 10-minute virtual TE (a metaphorical journey in a natural setting), whereas the audio-TE group heard the same narrative without visuals. Both groups completed questionnaires before (t0) and after the intervention (t1). Student’s t-test showed that the VR-TE group reported significantly higher epistemic expansion (p = .020) and greater increases in PEs at t1, especially in self-transcendent PEs such as awe (p < .001) and hope (p < .001) compared to the audio-TE group. These effects emerged regardless of participants’ gender, baseline mindful attention, or engagement with beauty (epistemic expansion: ANCOVA, F(1,73) = 7.99, p < .006, partial η² = 0.09; PEs: MANCOVA, F(8,65) = 4.18, p < .001, partial η² = 0.34), suggesting that VR’s capacity to induce transformative states may transcend these individual differences. This study contributes to the growing body of research on technology-mediated transformation and offers insights for designing personalized VR interventions aimed at enhancing personal growth, reflection, and psychological well-being. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of VR-based transformative experiences and explore their applicability across diverse and clinical populations.