Lin Jih-Hsuan Tammy, Wu Dai-Yun, Yang Ji-Wei
Department of Advertising, College of Communication, National Chengchi University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Taiwan Institute for Governance and Communication Research, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Front Psychol. 2021 Oct 8;12:693543. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.693543. eCollection 2021.
This study investigates the Proteus effect from the first-person perspective and during avatar embodiment in actual exercise. In addition to the immediate measurements of the Proteus effect, prolonged effects such as next-day perception and exercise-related outcomes are also explored. We theorized the Proteus effect as altered perceived self-concept and explored the association between virtual reality (VR) avatar manipulation and self-concept in the exercise context. While existing studies have mainly investigated the Proteus effect in a non-VR environment or after VR embodiment, we aim to contribute to the literature by addressing this concern to explore how the Proteus effect works in actual VR exercise. Through a 2 (avatar body shape: with a six pack vs. normal) × 2 (sex: male vs. female) between-subject experiment, the results partially support the Proteus effect. Regarding actual physical activity, embodying an avatar with a six pack during exercise creates fewer body movements. No significant effect was found for perceived exertion. We also explored the role of sex as a potential moderator in the association of the Proteus effect on exercise outcomes. The Proteus effect was supported by immediate and next-day self-efficacy for core-muscle exercise only among female participants. The between-subject design allowed us to probe how avatar manipulation of muscular body shape with a six pack as opposed to normal body shape influences participants' self-concept and exercise outcomes, as limited VR studies have employed within-subject comparisons. This also contributes to the literature by providing an upward comparison (e.g., muscular with a six pack vs. normal) as opposed to the previous downward comparison regarding body fitness (e.g., normal vs. obese). The overall results supported the Proteus effect in the context of core-muscle exercise when comparing normal and ideal body shape avatars. However, the Proteus effect as an altered self-concept and its effects on self-efficacy for exercise were supported among females but not males. Whereas the female participants who embodied avatars with a six pack associated themselves more with the muscular concept than other people, the male participants who embodied avatars with a six pack perceived themselves as more normal than others. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
本研究从第一人称视角以及在实际锻炼中的化身体验期间对普洛透斯效应进行了调查。除了对普洛透斯效应进行即时测量外，还探究了诸如次日感知和与锻炼相关的结果等长期效应。我们将普洛透斯效应理论化为感知自我概念的改变，并在锻炼情境中探索虚拟现实（VR）虚拟形象操控与自我概念之间的关联。虽然现有研究主要在非VR环境中或VR化身体验之后调查普洛透斯效应，但我们旨在通过解决这一问题为文献做出贡献，以探究普洛透斯效应在实际VR锻炼中是如何起作用的。通过一项2（虚拟形象体型：有六块腹肌与正常体型）×2（性别：男性与女性）的组间实验，结果部分支持了普洛透斯效应。关于实际身体活动，在锻炼期间化身为有六块腹肌的虚拟形象会产生较少的身体动作。在感知运动强度方面未发现显著影响。我们还探讨了性别作为普洛透斯效应与锻炼结果之间关联的潜在调节因素的作用。仅在女性参与者中，即时和次日核心肌肉锻炼自我效能支持了普洛透斯效应。组间设计使我们能够探究与正常体型相比，有六块腹肌的肌肉体型虚拟形象操控如何影响参与者的自我概念和锻炼结果，因为有限的VR研究采用的是组内比较。这也通过提供向上比较（例如，有六块腹肌的肌肉体型与正常体型），而不是先前关于身体适应性的向下比较（例如，正常体型与肥胖体型），为文献做出了贡献。当比较正常体型和理想体型的虚拟形象时，总体结果支持了核心肌肉锻炼情境下的普洛透斯效应。然而，作为感知自我概念改变的普洛透斯效应及其对锻炼自我效能的影响在女性中得到支持，在男性中则未得到支持。与其他女性相比，化身为有六块腹肌虚拟形象的女性参与者将自己更多地与肌肉概念联系在一起，而化身为有六块腹肌虚拟形象的男性参与者认为自己比其他人更正常。讨论了理论和实践意义。
