Virtual characters can influence fear responses
05/16/2025Virtual characters can do more than just entertain – they have the potential to reduce real, physical fear responses. The characteristics of virtual character play a crucial role in determining how strongly they affect our reactions to fear.
Our latest study – “The buffering of autonomic fear responses is moderated by the characteristics of a virtual character” – has been published in the renowned journal Computers in Human Behavior (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108657). Together with an interdisciplinary research team, Dr. Martin Weiß investigated how virtual characters can modulate the body’s responses to fear-inducing stimuli – and how significantly their design influences this effect.
The findings show: It’s not just whether a virtual character is present, but how it is designed that determines its potential to reduce fear.
More background on the study and its relevance for future psychological and clinical applications can be found in the recent interview with Prof. Grit Hein:
https://www.ukw.de/aktuelle-meldungen/detail/news/virtuelle-begleiter-gegen-reale-aengste/
