Exploring the Player-Avatar Relationship in Social VR

Image: The custom Lovely Mammoth avatar in VRChat home world (AI generated)

Overview

PhD research investigating player-avatar relationships in social VR platforms — with particular focus on VRChat. Areas of inquiry include the Proteus Effect, avatar identity, social presence, digital embodiment, and phantom touch phenomena in virtual environments.

Key Questions

• How do users negotiate identity when their virtual self diverges significantly from their physical self?
• Does the depth of avatar customisation amplify or suppress the Proteus Effect?
• What role does community recognition of a specific avatar play in anchoring a persistent virtual identity?

Status

Ongoing — literature review in progress, participant recruitment underway for qualitative study in VRChat.