I am constantly amazed at how people try to associate the virtual world with the real world. As someone who has experienced both worlds, I can say they are two very different places. In the virtual world, it is possible to take on a large army single-handed and destroy every enemy in sight. The reality of this situation is it could be done by a middle-aged person who works at a local supermarket stocking shelves. Video game controls in this individual's hands make them a different person. I don't think it would be good for this person to try and be a super soldier in the real world.
Why do so many researchers seem to not understand this concept? Maybe they're all middle-aged people who stock shelves at supermarkets, but their avatars are actually researchers. It would make sense.
I submit to you a study attempting to prove self-compassion can be learned with an avatar in a virtual world. Huh? Really?....Pu-leeeeeeeeeeese! (Sarcasm Alert) If I meet the people who paid for this study, I intend to sell their avatar a personal cloud.
This is an actual story. Below are excerpts of the story in bold and my important insights is in italics.
Self-compassion can be learned using avatars in immersive virtual reality, finds new research led by University College London (UCL). This innovative approach reduced self-criticism and increased self-compassion and feelings of contentment in naturally self-critical individuals. The scientists behind the MRC-funded study says it could be applied to treat a range of clinical conditions including depression.
Did all these changes happen in the real world or the virtual world? Should the avatar of some participants visit a virtual therapist to help them cope with the virtual world? They believe this could treat other clinical conditions? Sure, have an avatar look like a cheating spouse so a person at the controls could virtually rip them to shreds with a sharp object. It may not help in the real world. (Sarcasm Alert) Wonder if they would have to try and avoid the virtual world police? I don't want to think what time in a virtual prison could do to a person.
The team of psychologists and computer scientists from UCL, the University of Barcelona and University of Derby designed a method to improve people's compassion to themselves, by creating a unique self-to-self situation using avatars and computer gaming technology. Virtual reality has previously been used to treat psychological disorders including phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder but this research focused on a new application for promoting emotional well-being.
Creating self-to-self situations? Does this have a rating to keep it away from young children? Virtual reality has also helped people lose touch with reality. The real world can be a bit disappointing when compared to the virtual world. A place where people can control their environments and come back to life with the press of a button.
“You can't throw rocks at the house.”
“Why not? I do it in the virtual world all the time. The homeowner there doesn't do anything.”
“This is not the virtual world.”
“Maybe you should have a talk with my avatar.”
“Maybe you should have a talk with a real world police officer.”
“Oh.”
During the study, 43 healthy but self-critical women experienced a life-size virtual body substituting their own, giving a first-person perspective of a virtual room through the eyes of the avatar.
How was “self-critical" determined?
“You're healthy.”
“Yes, but I'm also ugly and like to say critical things about myself.”
“Have we got a study for you. You should participate in it right now.”
“I suppose if you're willing to have someone like me. Guess you can't find anyone better.”
“You're going to have an avatar body you'll absolutely love.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
Participants were all trained to express compassion towards a distressed virtual child while in their adult virtual body. As they talked to the crying child, it appeared to listen and respond positively to compassion. After a few minutes, 22 of the participants were then transferred to the virtual child body and from this perspective, they saw their original virtual adult body deliver their own compassionate words and gestures to them. The remaining 21 participants observed their original virtual adult body express compassion to the child from a third person perspective.
Sounds like a psychological thriller movie. The promotion would say “Experience what you say to yourself as a child by becoming that child.” Can you imagine the arguments you would have with yourself?
“No, you can't have any more candy.”
“You wouldn't say that if you were me.”
“I will be you in just a minute. I hope I quit giving myself a bad time about not giving me more candy.”
“You're so self-critical of you.”
“I don't understand me as a child or as an adult.”
“Who cares as long as we can have candy. It's virtual candy, so it doesn't matter.”
“Good point.”
Participants were surveyed for mood, state and personality traits before and after the experiment using verified tests.
What is considered “verified tests?”
“Are you feeling moodier now than when you were in the virtual world.”
“Yep.”
“Are your personality traits different.”
“I believe they are different.”
“Any idea why?”
“I forgot the real world candy affect me differently than virtual world candy. I now need to lose some weight.”
“Oh.”
According to Dr. Caroline Falconer, the first author from UCL Clinical Educational & Health Psychology, said: "Women who experienced the first-person perspective through the eyes of the the virtual child was soothed - they felt safe and content and had increased self-compassion and a lower level of self-criticism. For these women, we created a unique situation where they can have a kind and reassuring word with themselves. In contrast, those who experienced a third person perspective only reported reduced self-criticism, which highlights the benefit of a first person, self-to-self experience in immersive virtual reality when cultivating self-compassion."
Are you kidding me? What happens when these women have to face the real world? In this world, you can't experience a first-person perspective through the eyes of a virtual child. Real children are designed to make you crazy. They can say some pretty off-the-wall stuff.
“I don't like you.”
“Why.”
“You won't let me do what I want and won't give me new toys. You're not my friend.”
“I bet you'd like me better in the virtual world.”
“Only if I could blow you up and shoot you with a ray gun.”
“Okay.”
Could all of this be a prelude to a new video game series? Would it be called “You're a child, you're an adult, you are self-critical, now stop it!”
If you think I've been hard on this study, you should see how my avatar feels about it!
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