ABSTRACT

This study investigates how different character perspectives (a main vs. supporting character) impact story-consistent attitudes and beliefs and how that effect varies as a function of modality (mobile phone vs. VR headset) in an immersive story for preventing binge drinking. Results of a controlled experiment (N = 147) showed that participants assuming the perspective of a binge drinker (the main character) reported less negative attitudes toward binge drinking and less perceived severity of binge drinking than those assuming the perspective of a non-binge drinking friend (the supporting character). Moreover, participants who watched the story in VR headsets (vs. phones) reported greater perceived susceptibility of binge drinking. A moderated mediation effect was found, suggesting that psychological reactance significantly mediated the effect of perspective on attitudes when the immersive story was viewed in phones. This study highlights the importance of character perspective and viewer’s modality when designing immersive stories for health.

摘要

本研究调查了不同的角色视角（主要角色与配角角色）如何影响与故事一致的态度和信念，以及这种影响如何随着模式（手机与 VR 耳机）在沉浸式故事中防止暴饮暴食而变化。对照实验的结果 ( N= 147）表明，与假设不酗酒的朋友（配角）视角的参与者相比，假设酗酒者（主角）视角的参与者对酗酒的负面态度和对酗酒严重程度的感知程度较低。此外，在 VR 头戴设备（与手机）中观看故事的参与者报告说，他们更容易暴饮暴食。发现了一种适度的中介效应，表明当在手机中观看沉浸式故事时，心理反应显着调节了视角对态度的影响。这项研究强调了角色视角和观众模式在设计沉浸式健康故事时的重要性。