Influence of Prior Acquaintance on the Shared VR Experience

Exploring social dynamics in virtual reality (VR) at a qualitative level holds great potential for improved applications Here we examined the influence of prior acquaintance on how people interacted with each other in VR. Groups of 3 or 4 participants, represented by realistic look-alike avatars, engaged in discussions on predefined themes. There were two conditions: (1) groups of individuals with prior connections and (2) strangers. Questionnaire responses revealed that pre-existing acquaintances fostered a stronger sense of copresence, and greater sentiment compared to the strangers group. This insight is crucial for optimizing the design and dynamics of VR interactions.