Special Issue on Exploring Identity, Emotions, and Learning in Virtual Environments: An Introduction

摘要

This special issue explores how virtual environments (VEs) can be used to elicit emotions and perspective taking as well as help users to learn and explore their virtual avatar and physical world identities in interesting ways. VEs are computer-generated environments of real or imaginary content and include games and simulations. The articles selected for this special issue provide novel and valuable insights into a wide-range of VEs, including immersive computer-based (e.g., Second Life), as well as commercial games (World of WarCraft). The authors used a variety of psychological theories and constructs (e.g., five factor model of personality, self-determination theory, self-efficacy, empathy, and presence) to generate an interesting set of research questions to frame the use and impact of the digital environments presented in each article. The result is a special issue that explores the effect of every th ing from environment-external tools to embedded and customizable features of these environments on users interactions with them and the resulting psychological (e.g., affective) and learning outcomes.