Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Virtual Doppelgangers: Psychological Effects of Avatars Who Ignore Their Owners

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Online Worlds: Convergence of the Real and the Virtual

Part of the book series: Human-Computer Interaction Series ((HCIS))

Abstract

For a decade, the Virtual Human Interaction Lab has been creating doppelgangers, virtual versions of the self, for research purposes. This chapter considers how humans may be affected by confrontation with virtual versions of themselves, on the basis of well-established psychological theories, including social cognitive theory (social learning theory), media richness theory (information richness theory), and self-perception theory. Experiments carried out in the Lab, and informed by these theories, have explored such notable topics as health communication, marketing, and false memories. The findings of one series of studies suggest that doppelgangerscan show the rewards of exercise and proper eating habits, changing people’s health-related behavior as a result. Other studies showed that doppelgangers are powerful marketing agents and can be used in advertisements to create favorable brand impressions among consumers. Other research documented that children have difficulty in distinguishing between an actual memory elicited by a physical world event and a false memory elicited by mental image or doppelganger.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Advertising Age. (2007). Bring out your dead: Crispin resurrects Orville Redenbacher. Retrieved May 4, 2009, from http://adage.com/adages/post?article_id = 114344

  • Ahn, S. J., & Bailenson, J. N. (2008). Self-endorsing versus other-endorsing in virtual environments: The effect on brand preference. Unpublished manuscript. Stanford, CA: Stanford University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andsager, J. L., Bemker, V., Choi, H.-L., & Torwel, V. (2006). Perceived similarity of exemplar traits and behavior: Effects on message evaluation. Communication Research, 33, 3-18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailenson, J. N., Beall, A. C., Blascovich, J., & Rex, C. (2004). Examining virtual busts: Are photogrammetrically-generated head models effective for person identification? Presence: Tele-Operators and Virtual Environments, 13(4), 416-427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailenson, J. N., Blascovich, J., & Guadagno, R. E. (2008). Self-representations in immersive virtual environments. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38(11), 2673-2690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory of mass communication. Media Psychology, 3, 265-299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., & Huston, A. C. (1961). Identification as a process of incidental learning. Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology, 63, 311-318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bem, D. (1972). Self perception theory. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology Volume 6, New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blascovich, J., Loomis, J., Beall, A. C., Swinth, K. R., Hoyt, C. L., & Bailenson, J. N. (2002). Immersive virtual environment technology as a methodological tool for social psychology. Psychological Inquiry, 2, 103-124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daft, R. L., & Lengel, R. H. (1984). Information richness: A new approach to managerial information processing and organization design. In B. Staw & L.L. Cummings (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior, (pp. 191-233). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daft, R. L., Lengel, R. H., & Trevino, L. K. (1987). Message equivocality, media selection, and manager performance: Implications for information systems. MIS Quarterly, 11, 354-366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, J., & Bailenson, J. N. (2009). Virtual self-modeling: The effects of vicarious reinforcement and identification on exercise behaviors. Media Psychology, 12, 1-25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, J., Bailenson, J. N., & Binney, J. (2009). Virtual experiences, physical behaviors: The effect of presence on imitation of an eating avatar. PRESENCE: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments, 18(4), 294-303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, R. H., & Gilovich, T. (1988). The dark side of self and social perceptions: Black uniforms and aggression in professional sports. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 74-85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, W. (1984). Neuromancer. New York: Penguin Putnam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heatherton, T. F., Macrae, C. N., & Kelley, W. M. (2004). What the social brain sciences can tell us about the self. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(5), 190-193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilmert, C. J., Kulik, J. A., & Christenfeld, N. J. S. (2006). Positive and negative opinion modeling: The influence of another’s similarity and dissimilarity. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 90, 440-452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ito, K. E., Kalyanaraman, S., Brown, J. D., & Miller, W. C. (2008). Factors affecting avatar use in a STI prevention CD-ROM. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, S19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, H., Yano, H., Uemura, T., & Moriya, T. (2004). Food texture display. Presented at the 12th International Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems (HAPTICS’04), March 27-28, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonze, S. (Director). (1999). Being John Malkovich [Motion picture]. United States: Gramercy Pictures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, Y., & McLaughlin, M. (2008). Role enactment based on gender stereotypes in interactive media: Effects of role play on the management of self-concept and physical distance in virtual reality environments. Presented at the 58th Annual International Communication Association Conference, May 22-26, Montreal, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingdon, M. (2007). Second Life. Linden Lab.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larid, J. D. (2007). Feelings: The perception of self. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, K. (2005). Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix. Activision.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meichengaum, D. H. (1971). Examination of model characteristics in reducing avoidance behavior. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 17, 298-307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merola, N., Pena, J., & Hancock, J. (2006). Avatar color and social identity effects: On attitudes and group dynamics in virtual realities. Presented at the 56th Annual International Communication Association Conference, June 19-23, Dresden, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morhaime, M. (2009). World of Warcraft. Blizzard Entertainment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamoto, T., & Minh, H.P.D. (2007). Improvement of olfactory display using solenoid valves. Presented at the Virtual Reality Conference, March 14-17, Charlotte, NC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poe, E. A. (1839). William Wilson, from (http://xroads.virginia.edu/∼HYPER/POE/w_wilson.html).

  • Ratan, R., Santa Cruz, M., & Vorderer, P. (2007). Multitasking, presence and self-presence on the Wii. Presented at the 10th Annual International Workshop on Presence, October 25-27, Barcelona, Spain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, T. B., Kuiper, N. A., & Kirker, S. (1977). Self-reference and the encoding of personal information. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 677-688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandburg, C. (1954). Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie years and the war years. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segovia, K. Y., & Bailenson, J. N. (In press). Virtually true: Children’s acquisition of false memories in virtual reality. Media Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stotland, E. (1969). Exploratory investigations of empathy. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology, (pp. 274-314). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Symons, C. S., & Johnson, B. T. (1997). The self-reference effect in memory: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 121(3), 371-394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, H. Z., Srinivasan, M., Eberman, B., & Cheng, B. (1994). Human factors for the design of force-reflecting haptic interfaces. Presented at the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division, November 6-11, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee, N., & Bailenson, J. N. (2007). The Proteus effect: Self transformations in virtual reality. Human Communication Research, 33, 271-290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yee, N. & Bailenson, J.N. (2009). The difference between being and seeing: The relative contribution of self perception and priming to behavioral changes via digital self-representation. Media Psychology, 12(2), 195-209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee, N., Bailenson, J. N., & Ducheneaut, N. (2009). The Proteus effect: Implications of transformed digital self-representation on online and offline behavior. Communication Research, 36(2), 285-312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sun Joo Ahn, Jesse Fox, James Scarborough, and Nick Yee for their helpful comments on this chapter. The current work was partially supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant 0527377. In addition, the Stanford Graduate Fellowship supported Kathryn Segovia during her contribution to this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University, Stanford, USA

    Jeremy N. Bailenson & Kathryn Y. Segovia

Authors
  1. Jeremy N. Bailenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathryn Y. Segovia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeremy N. Bailenson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Div. Information & Intelligent, National Science Foundation, Wilson Blvd. 4201, Arlington, 22230, U.S.A.

    William Sims Bainbridge

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bailenson, J.N., Segovia, K.Y. (2010). Virtual Doppelgangers: Psychological Effects of Avatars Who Ignore Their Owners. In: Bainbridge, W. (eds) Online Worlds: Convergence of the Real and the Virtual. Human-Computer Interaction Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-825-4_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-825-4_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-824-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-825-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation