Open AccessEFFECTS OF PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND SOCIAL CLOSENESS IN VR AND TEXT ON SPATIAL DISTANCE ESTIMATION
Author(s) -
Andrea Stevenson Won,
Byungdoo Kim
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
selected papers of internet research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2162-3317
DOI - 10.5210/spir.v2021i0.12263
Subject(s) - closeness , construal level theory , feeling , perception , social distance , affect (linguistics) , psychology , social media , social psychology , geographical distance , contrast (vision) , computer science , sociology , communication , mathematics , artificial intelligence , medicine , mathematical analysis , population , demography , disease , covid-19 , pathology , neuroscience , world wide web , infectious disease (medical specialty)
How do mediated social interactions affect your perceptions of theworld around you? We extend previous research that examines how mediated interactions affectspatial distance perception by comparing two explanatory theories: motivated perception andconstrual theory. In two studies, we contrast the effects of talking to a remote versus aco-located partner on perceptions of physical distance, comparing virtual reality (VR) andtexting conditions. We demonstrate an interaction across media: participants who reportfeeling socially close to a conversational partner located in a distant city estimate thatcity to be closer. However, participants who report feeling more socially close to aco-located conversational partner estimate a larger distance to the city their partner isdescribing. We discuss the implications for media use in a period of increased virtualinteractions.