Abstract Virtual reality is spreading rapidly as an emerging communication tool in organizations. The present research examines when and why leaders might prefer interacting with their subordinates virtually, via computer avatars (graphical computer representations of humans), rather than through face-to-face interactions. We examine this question in the context of monitoring and seek to understand the underlying psychology that drives leaders’ preference for interacting via avatars. Across two experiments, we tested our predictions that (1) contexts that require frequent monitoring increase leaders' preference for interacting via avatars, and (2) this preference is driven by concerns about negative social evaluation. Results supported our predictions, indicating that contexts requiring frequent monitoring increase leaders' preference for interacting via avatars (Experiment 1), and this effect was due to increased concerns about negative social evaluation (Experiment2). We also explored the role of personality on this effect (Experiment 2). Theoretical implications for the psychology of leadership in the digital era and the adoption of novel technologies are discussed.

中文翻译：

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虚拟（免于）现实：评估忧虑和领导者对通过虚拟形象进行交流的偏好

摘要 虚拟现实作为一种新兴的组织通信工具正在迅速传播。本研究探讨了领导者何时以及为何更喜欢通过计算机化身（人类的图形计算机表示）与他们的下属进行虚拟互动，而不是通过面对面的互动。我们在监控的背景下研究这个问题，并试图了解导致领导者偏好通过虚拟形象进行互动的潜在心理。在两个实验中，我们测试了我们的预测：(1) 需要频繁监控的环境会增加领导者对通过虚拟形象进行互动的偏好，以及 (2) 这种偏好是由对负面社会评价的担忧驱动的。结果支持了我们的预测，表明需要频繁监控的环境会增加领导者的 偏好通过化身进行交互（实验 1），这种影响是由于对负面社会评价的担忧增加（实验 2）。我们还探讨了个性对这种影响的作用（实验 2）。讨论了数字时代领导心理学的理论意义和新技术的采用。