Academic Journal
Beautifully Diverse? Self-Representations and Diversity Preferences in Avatar-Mediated Virtual Environments.
| Τίτλος: | Beautifully Diverse? Self-Representations and Diversity Preferences in Avatar-Mediated Virtual Environments. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Lin, Xiangting Bernice1,2, Lou, Chen2, Fan, Ruoxi3, Qiu, Lin4,5,6 linqiu@cuhk.edu.hk |
| Πηγή: | Cyberpsychology. 2026, Vol. 20 Issue 3, p163-188. 26p. |
| Θεματικοί όροι: | *Self-presentation, *Self-expression, *Art appreciation, *Social interaction, *Virtual reality, *Websites, *Cultural pluralism |
| Περίληψη: | While online platforms increasingly prioritize diversity by offering extensive avatar customization options, it remains unclear how the avatar features that users are attracted to impact their objective diversity and whether perceived avatar diversity raises user engagement. We conducted two studies using a simulated avatar customization website to examine how user customization of avatars impacts each feature's objective diversity. Further, drawing from the hyperpersonal model and aesthetic appreciation theory, we present users with groups of avatars that varied in levels of perceived attractiveness and diversity and assess their likelihoods of joining the platform. Study 1 analyzed 136 majority White participants (age range: 21 - 63 years; M = 37.4, SD = 10.8; 49.3% female, 47.8% male, 0.7% non-binary or third gender; 2.2% missing), and study 2 analyzed 128 non-White participants (age range: 21 - 65 years; M = 35.2, SD = 10.2; 47.7% female, 47.7% male; 4.7% missing). The results revealed two types of avatar features that were sample-dependent: (1) aesthetically-normative features, which align with widely accepted attractiveness norms, reduce objective diversity; and (2) aesthetically-expressive features, which allow creative self-expression, increase objective diversity. Regardless of the sample demographic, perceived avatar diversity amplified the positive effect of attractive avatars on users' likelihood of joining the platform. This research demonstrates the utility of integrating the hyperpersonal model and aesthetic appreciation theory in theorizing the interaction between perceived avatar attractiveness and diversity on user engagement. It also uncovers a socio-technical feedback loop by studying objective and perceived diversity simultaneously. Actionable insights are provided to address the ethical implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | Academic Search Index |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/fiv2js/result?sid=EBSCO:asx&genre=article&issn=18027962&ISBN=&volume=20&issue=3&date=20260901&spage=163&pages=163-188&title=Cyberpsychology&atitle=Beautifully%20Diverse%3F%20Self-Representations%20and%20Diversity%20Preferences%20in%20Avatar-Mediated%20Virtual%20Environments.&aulast=Lin%2C%20Xiangting%20Bernice&id=DOI:10.5817/CP2026-3-9 Name: Full Text Finder (for New FTF UI) (ns324271) Category: fullText Text: Full Text Finder MouseOverText: Full Text Finder |
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| Header | DbId: asx DbLabel: Academic Search Index An: 194875588 RelevancyScore: 1452 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 1452.42749023438 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Beautifully Diverse? Self-Representations and Diversity Preferences in Avatar-Mediated Virtual Environments. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Xiangting+Bernice%22">Lin, Xiangting Bernice</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lou%2C+Chen%22">Lou, Chen</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fan%2C+Ruoxi%22">Fan, Ruoxi</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qiu%2C+Lin%22">Qiu, Lin</searchLink><relatesTo>4,5,6</relatesTo><i> linqiu@cuhk.edu.hk</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Cyberpsychology%22">Cyberpsychology</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 20 Issue 3, p163-188. 26p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-presentation%22">Self-presentation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-expression%22">Self-expression</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Art+appreciation%22">Art appreciation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+interaction%22">Social interaction</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Virtual+reality%22">Virtual reality</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Websites%22">Websites</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+pluralism%22">Cultural pluralism</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: While online platforms increasingly prioritize diversity by offering extensive avatar customization options, it remains unclear how the avatar features that users are attracted to impact their objective diversity and whether perceived avatar diversity raises user engagement. We conducted two studies using a simulated avatar customization website to examine how user customization of avatars impacts each feature's objective diversity. Further, drawing from the hyperpersonal model and aesthetic appreciation theory, we present users with groups of avatars that varied in levels of perceived attractiveness and diversity and assess their likelihoods of joining the platform. Study 1 analyzed 136 majority White participants (age range: 21 - 63 years; M = 37.4, SD = 10.8; 49.3% female, 47.8% male, 0.7% non-binary or third gender; 2.2% missing), and study 2 analyzed 128 non-White participants (age range: 21 - 65 years; M = 35.2, SD = 10.2; 47.7% female, 47.7% male; 4.7% missing). The results revealed two types of avatar features that were sample-dependent: (1) aesthetically-normative features, which align with widely accepted attractiveness norms, reduce objective diversity; and (2) aesthetically-expressive features, which allow creative self-expression, increase objective diversity. Regardless of the sample demographic, perceived avatar diversity amplified the positive effect of attractive avatars on users' likelihood of joining the platform. This research demonstrates the utility of integrating the hyperpersonal model and aesthetic appreciation theory in theorizing the interaction between perceived avatar attractiveness and diversity on user engagement. It also uncovers a socio-technical feedback loop by studying objective and perceived diversity simultaneously. Actionable insights are provided to address the ethical implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.5817/CP2026-3-9 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 26 StartPage: 163 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Self-presentation Type: general – SubjectFull: Self-expression Type: general – SubjectFull: Art appreciation Type: general – SubjectFull: Social interaction Type: general – SubjectFull: Virtual reality Type: general – SubjectFull: Websites Type: general – SubjectFull: Cultural pluralism Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Beautifully Diverse? Self-Representations and Diversity Preferences in Avatar-Mediated Virtual Environments. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lin, Xiangting Bernice – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lou, Chen – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fan, Ruoxi – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Qiu, Lin IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 09 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 18027962 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 20 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Cyberpsychology Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |