Previous research largely supports the notion that mediated contact and engagement with minority characters can improve viewers’ real-life minority attitudes. However, it is unclear to what extent different forms of media engagement such as parasocial friendship and wishful identification are linked to attitudes, and whether deep-level similarities affect engagement with minority characters. Deep-level similarities refer to viewers’ perception of shared personality traits, attitudes, and social experiences with characters. In a cross-sectional survey, we examine (1) to what extent parasocial friendship and wishful identification with an LGBTQ character are each associated with viewers’ prejudicial attitudes toward the LGBTQ community, and (2) to what extent perceived deep-level similarities of an LGBTQ character are related to viewers’ parasocial friendship and wishful identification felt for the LGBTQ character. Based on a structural equation model using a sample of U.S. residents (n = 247), it may be concluded that the deep-level similarities of LGBTQ characters have both direct and indirect associations with LGTBQ prejudice, mediated by wishful identification.
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Initial expectations about the interactive affordances of VR were often inspired by science fiction and technological fantasies rather than based on actual technical possibilities. In these futuristic accounts of VR, interactors would have the opportunity to fully engage with the characters that inhabit the story world, in ways that would feel so natural that it would be indistinguishable from reality. In ‘real’ reality however, the actual production of VR has turned out to be considerably more complicated. To provide a realistic impression of the actual possibilities of VR, this study presents four widely acclaimed contemporary VR experiences (Wolves in the Walls, The Line, Down the Rabbit Hole and A Fisherman’s Tale) and reviews them from a media theory and communication science perspective. We discuss whether and how the concepts identification, parasocial interaction, ‘breaking the fourth wall’ and spatial and narrative presence can still be applied to these VR case studies, eventually aiming to contribute some rudimentary insights into the range of possible media conventions that narrative VR may contain.
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This demo is the first outcome of the research project VR for Diversity. The theoretical backgrounds for the project are shortly discussed and the concept for Amelia’s Dream is presented. Amelia’s Dream is a VR experience that is filmed using volumetric video capture technology, in which a young woman shares some of her dreams and concerns, relating to issues of gender equality. Focusing on how parasocial and physical interaction may impact the persuasive effects of VR, the research plan shortly elaborates on how the installation will be used for experimental studies into the possibilities of VR as a perspective shifter.
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The presented research project will address parasocial interaction (PSI) directed towards non-player characters (NPCs) within video games. As first described by Horton and Wohl in 1956, the investigation of PSI has been predominantly limited to the context of linear media. Consequently, a significant research gap has emerged, prompting the need for this study. This research endeavors to bridge this gap by conducting multiple studies that delve into different aspects of a character's presence that seem to affect PSI. For example, factors such as obtrusiveness and persistence will be investigated due to their potential influence on the strength of PSI (Hartmann, Schramm, & Klimmt, 2004). Furthermore, the inquiry extends to exploring the collective impact of a group of NPCs on PSI dynamics. To achieve these objectives, the research will employ research through design methods, involving iterative modifications to the NPCs across various test setups. A game-based research environment will be created for participant exposure, leveraging the video game RimWorld (Ludeon Studios, 2018) as a foundational framework that can be adapted as necessary. Employing a quantitative approach, the studies will document the impact different aspects of a character’s presence have on the strength of PSI observed. The outcomes of this research endeavor will be disseminated among fellow game developers through artistic interventions, such as, for example, game jams. This approach seeks to not only contribute to the scholarly understanding of PSI but also offer practical insights in the context of game development.
