Virtual Embodiment of White People in a Black Virtual Body Leads to a Sustained Reduction in Their Implicit Racial Bias

• Published in: Frontiers in human neuroscience Vol. 10; p. 601
• Main Authors: Banakou, Domna, Hanumanthu, Parasuram D., Slater, Mel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 29.11.2016; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Adults; Associations; Behavior; Bias; body ownership; Computer applications; Employment interviews; Implicit Association Test; Neuroscience; Racial Bias; Racism; rubber hand illusion; Self image; Stereotypes; Virtual reality; Spain; implicit association test; racism; virtual reality; rubber hand illusion; Tai Chi; body ownership; racial bias

Virtual reality can be used to visually substitute a person's body by a life-sized virtual one. Such embodiment results in a perceptual illusion of body ownership over the virtual body (VB). Previous research has shown that the form of the VB can influence implicit attitudes. In particular, emb...