Virtual Risks that Change Physical Behaviors
Virtual Risks that Change Physical Behaviors
Abstract: Risk perception stands at the core of many health and environmental behavior theories because of its strong correlation to behavior change. However, individuals are motivated to place psychological distances between themselves and a health or environment threat, considering themselves less susceptible than others. This presentation discusses the efficacy of immersive virtual environments (IVEs), popularly known as "virtual reality," as high impact risk communication channels to influence or change risk perceptions and, in turn, promote the adoption of preventive behaviors. Work-in-progress studies on 1) using IVEs to promote safe sun behavior and 2) applying IVEs to frame different risk-relevant messages as embodied experiences will be presented.
**About the Junck Colloquium:
The Mary Junck Research Colloquium Series was formally established in 2007 to nurture an intellectually vibrant climate with both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary shades, by scheduling scholarly presentations on diverse topics.
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