Reducing Implicit Prejudice Through Virtual Reality: The Impact of Partial Embodiment and Positive vs. Basic Intergroup Contact

Abstract

This study explores whether exposure to positive (vs. basic) interactions with a migrant through an immersive 360° video with partial embodiment—where participants viewed the scene from a first-person perspective and observed only their virtual hands—can reduce implicit prejudice, attitudes, and emotions toward migrants. A total of 207 Italian participants were involved in the study. Approximately two weeks before the immersive video session, participants completed a questionnaire with scales measuring attitudes and emotions toward migrants and the Racial Implicit Association Test (IAT). In the laboratory, they were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: observing a migrant in the 360° video scenario engaging in either prosocial or basic behavior, while embodying virtual hands with either a White or Black skin tone. Results showed a reduction in implicit racial prejudice across both conditions (positive and basic contact), regardless of hand color. In addition, we observed a significant reduction of negative emotions and negative behavioral intentions toward migrants only in the positive condition. These findings highlight the potential of brief virtual intergroup contact that shows positive behaviors of outgroup members to reduce both implicit and explicit negative attitudes, adding evidence that even short immersive interventions can shape intergroup perceptions.