Escape From Human: An Interview Study of Social VR Players Practicing Self-Expression Through Avatars that Self-Identify as “Non-Human”

Paper Title

Escape From Human: An Interview Study of Social VR Players Practicing Self-Expression Through Avatars that Self-Identify as “Non-Human”

Publication Info

• Topic area: Social VR and user embodiment through non-human avatars
• Keywords: Social VR, non-human avatars, embodiment, identity expression, virtual reality, avatar customization, social interaction, body schema, phantom touch, metaverse design

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Prior research has focused on humanoid avatars and their role in identity exploration, leaving the motivations, experiences, and challenges of using non-human avatars in social VR largely unexplored.
• Significance: Understanding non-human avatar practices is crucial for fostering inclusive VR environments, enabling diverse self-expression, and addressing challenges in social interaction and avatar design.
• Motivation and related work: Previous studies have examined identity practices, nonverbal communication, and avatar embodiment in VR, but they have not adequately addressed the unique experiences and social dynamics associated with non-human avatars. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the motivations, effects, and challenges of using non-human avatars.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A qualitative interview study with 28 Japanese social VR users who regularly embody non-human avatars, focusing on their motivations, experiences, and challenges.
• Novelty:
  1. Identification of motivations for adopting non-human avatars, including escaping human norms and embodying alternative beings.
  2. Exploration of how non-human avatars influence bodily perception, social interaction, and psychological states.
  3. Analysis of challenges in social contexts and technical limitations associated with non-human avatars.
  4. Discussion of design implications for inclusive VR environments and avatar customization tools.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Semi-structured interviews conducted in private VR spaces, with participants embodying their non-human avatars during the sessions.
  • Reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts and associated visual data.
  • Iterative recruitment and refinement of research questions based on early findings.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Users adopt non-human avatars to escape physical and social constraints, experience alternative forms of embodiment, and engage in creative self-expression.
  • Non-human avatars influence bodily perception, with users adapting their movements to avatar proportions and experiencing phantom touch in non-existent body parts.
  • Psychological effects include reduced fears (e.g., of heights or water) and behavioral shifts aligned with the avatar’s traits.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Provides a nuanced understanding of non-human avatar practices, which are underexplored compared to humanoid avatars.
  • Highlights the unique social and psychological effects of non-human embodiment.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Participants: 28 Japanese VRChat users (19 male, 7 female, 1 MtF, 1 agender; mean age 29.6 years).
  • Data collection: Semi-structured interviews averaging 85 minutes, conducted in VRChat or Cluster.
  • Analysis: Reflexive thematic analysis of transcripts and visual data.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited to Japanese-speaking participants and primarily VRChat users, excluding other platforms and cultural contexts.
  • Did not include users of photorealistic animal avatars or examine economic constraints on avatar selection.
  • Future research should explore cross-platform comparisons, cultural differences, and the long-term cognitive effects of non-human avatar use.

Summary

This study investigates the motivations, experiences, and challenges of using non-human avatars in social VR, based on interviews with 28 Japanese VRChat users. Key findings reveal that users adopt non-human avatars to escape human norms, embody alternative beings, and engage in creative self-expression, leading to changes in bodily perception, psychological states, and social interaction. Challenges include technical limitations, social frictions, and design constraints, which are mitigated through community collaboration and user-driven tools. The study highlights the need for inclusive VR design and provides insights into identity practices, embodiment, and multi-embodiment social interaction in the metaverse.