Society & Culture - Friday, November 13, 2009 14:44 - 5 Comments

Avatars behaving badly

In an experiment, participants represented by an avatar in a dark cloak or a KKK-like uniform demonstrated negative or antisocial behavior. “Oftentimes, the connotations of our own virtual character will subtly remind us of common stereotypes, such as ‘bad guys wear black or dress up in hooded robes.’ This association may surreptitiously steer users to think and behave more antisocially,” says Jorge Peña.

TEXAS-AUSTIN (US)—Digital personas, known as avatars, can affect the way people think and feel when interacting in a virtual environment, new research shows. Continue…