Cyberpsychology in
Virtual Reality and
Artificial Intelligence
What is Virtual
Reality?
o Broadly defined as the use of computer technologies
to create three-dimensional virtual worlds or objects
which users can interact with.
o The user often inhabits a virtual body, known as an
avatar within this world, and they can interact with
other individuals or agents (characters controlled by
the computer).
o Because of the 3D nature of these worlds, they are
often more immersive than Virtual Environments
(VEs) which are usually depicted via traditional, two-
dimensional monitors.
Types of Virtual Reality
Equipment
o HMDs induce a sensation of three-dimensional viewing
by presenting slightly different images to each of the
Head users’ eyes.
Mounted o This mimics vision in the real world, where each eye
Displays sees a slightly different view because of the small
distance between the eyes.
o HMD fools the brain into thinking that the two-
dimensional image being portrayed depicts ‘normal’
three-dimensional space.
- Best VR 360 Videos (Virtual Reality)
Types of Virtual Reality
Projection
Equipment
3D/4D Data gloves
Based
Systems Cinemas
CYBERSICKNE
o This is a form of motion sickness caused by
SS
discrepancies between visual and proprioceptive cues
and is very similar to carsickness or seasickness.
o Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, postural instability
and disorientation, but often the earlier stages of
cybersickness can be identified by carefully observing
the user for other symptoms, such as yawning.
o Cybersickness can occur in any user, and in any virtual
world, but it can be more common in virtual worlds which
do not respond sufficiently quickly to user movement
(lag) or those with misaligned optical components or
slow frame refresh rates.
How does VR work?
o A sense of immersion - phenomenon more commonly identified in VR
literature as Presence.
o Presence is the extent to which the person allows themselves to be
convinced that they are somewhere other than their actual physical
location.
o Presence is necessary for many of the psychological applications of VR to
be effective – the user needs to feel immersed in the environment
portrayed.
Sensation of presence requires three components:
1. Multimodal input from the virtual world is combined to be experienced as a
reality.
2. Integration occurs from an egocentric perspective – specifically that the
user feels that they are within the environment, rather than observing it from
an external vantage point.
3. Virtual experience is recognized as having meaning and relevance.
VR As a Treatment Tool
o Many therapists identified Virtual Reality tools as potential
aids in the treatment of various psychological conditions
such as anxiety disorders such as phobias and Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
o This In-virtuo (VR) exposure helped overcome limitations
of other methods such as In-vivo and imaginal exposure.
o Potential clients are more open to facing their fears in
virtual worlds and do not have to visualize the stimulus
themselves.
o In the virtual world, the therapist helps the client to
extinguish their initial response to the feared object or
situation by repeatedly exposing them to cues related to
their fear, preventing them from avoiding the feared
situation, and providing them with techniques which help
them to face the situation when it occurs.
o Video - Conquering Fear with Virtual Reality Exposure
Therapy
VR As a Treatment Tool
o VR tools are also used to treat Addictions and eating
disorders. The client is exposed to cues in the virtual world
(objects or situations) which would normally elicit a
reaction in the real world.
o For example, an individual with problematic drinking
behaviors might associate specific environments, such as
hotels, bars and restaurants with consuming alcoholic
beverages. They may also find their cravings increase as
they are exposed to certain cues, such as advertisements
or items on display at supermarkets or other public places.
o Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) can be used to
reduce the client’s responses to these cues by displaying
them in a carefully controlled virtual environment and
providing the client with techniques for managing, resisting
and reducing their cravings.
o Not only therapy but VR has also been used as a
diagnostic tool for disorders such as Paranoia and ADHD.
Augmented
Reality
o AR technology overlays digital content (e.g.,
images, 3D objects, information) onto the real
world, enhancing or "augmenting" the user's
perception of the physical environment.
o Several smartphone applications which allow
users to experience AR (Tourist attractions,
Museum displays)
o AR has been used as a method of inducing the
mirror box illusion for individuals experiencing
phantom limb pain following amputation.
- Phantom Limb Mirror Box video
Artificial
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human
intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform tasks that
Intelligence
typically require human intelligence.
• AI systems can analyze data, learn from it, make decisions, and
adapt to new information.
• AI encompasses a broad range of technologies and applications,
and it can be categorized into several subfields, including machine
learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and
robotics.
• - How China Is Using Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms Video
Most famous test to determine if we have achieved Artificial Intelligence is the Turing Test -
determines that if a computer can have a conversation with a human without the human
knowing that they are talking to a machine, then the AI is deemed to have passed the test.
The A.I.
Effect
The "AI Effect" is a term used to describe a phenomenon
where, as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
technologies advance and become more capable, what
was once considered AI begins to be viewed as a regular
or mundane technology.
In other words, as AI systems and capabilities become
more commonplace and integrated into our daily lives, they
tend to lose their mystique and are no longer perceived as
"intelligent" in the same way they once were.
Applications
CHATBOX
of A.I.
SENTIMENT ANALYSIS
Sentiment of online communication
Virtual Reality
Personalized environments (A.I.
Online counselling (mimics human blogs, social media posts. (help
tracks the user's behavior and tailor
conversation). detect cyber bullying and
the VR experience).
harassment)
Natural Language
Personalized Therapy Digital Phenotyping
A.I. analyze patient's communication
Processing Use of digital data, such as
patterns, personality traits, and Analyze large amounts of text data, smartphone usage patterns, social
emotional states to provide such as online posts and comments, media activity, and GPS location, to
personalized guidance, to identify patterns and trends in identify and monitor changes in
recommendations, and feedback. language use, sentiment, and topics behavior and mental health
related to mental health.
Applications
ofWoebot
A.I. TalkSpace &
BetterHelp
Online check-ins, mood tracking,
Uses chatbots to match
Mental Health and guided conversations based
users with licensed
Apps that use on CBT techniques
therapists
AI chat boxes
Replika MySerenity
A.I. chatbot app that offers chatbots to offer mindfulness
emotional support, exercises, breathing techniques,
encouragement, and and other mental health tools to
conversation to users. users
Social
Robotics
o Social robotics examines how humans interact socially with robots,
and even how robots interact with each other.
o Psychologists are frequently more interested in how humans
interact with the AI, particularly when the AI is embedded in a
robot.
o Our interactions with robots are obviously dependent on our
interpretations of the robot’s actions and intentions. Our
interpretations of the robot’s actions can affect how we feel about
interacting with the robot.
o Park et al. (2012) found that when interacting with robots that were
programmed to demonstrate facial expressions associated with
either introverted or extroverted personalities, users tended to be
most comfortable around robots with similar personalities to
themselves.
A.I and
Companionship
o One of the main applications of social robotics is companionship.
o Research has focused on the use of robots as companions for older adults and
children (therapeutic robots in hospitals and elder-care settings.)
o AI companion does not need to have a robotic form, and many ‘virtual’ pets are
presented within games or smartphone apps.
o Segura et al. (2012) noted that participants preferred a robotic companion to a
virtual agent presented on a normal screen when completing secretarial tasks,
finding it to have greater social presence and to be less annoying.
o Similarly, Syrdal et al. (2013) noted that sharing physical space in real time
might be important for companionship
o Sharkey (2012) discuss several ethical concerns regarding the use of robotic
care for the elderly, including loss of privacy, deception, loss of control and a
potential reduction in human contact.
o - Meet Ameca! The World’s Most Advanced Robot | This Morning (Video)
A.I and Ethical Concerns
Ethical Concerns
with A.I
Distribution of Harmful Bias (Training Data
content Bias & Algorithmic Privacy Concerns
Bias)
Job Displacement and Social Manipulation
Security Risks
Economic Inequality. and Deepfakes
