Search Here

An experiment conducted with undergraduate students in the Netherlands explored the potential impact of a single virtual reality (VR) roleplaying session on self-compassion and self-criticism. 

Self-criticism, characterized by harsh evaluation of oneself and a focus on perceived failures, can lead to negative emotional states like anxiety and depression. Conversely, self-compassion involves treating oneself with kindness, understanding and forgiveness, fostering emotional resilience and overall well-being.

The recent study aimed to diminish self-criticism and enhance self-compassion through a single VR session. They employed a cognitive-behavioral technique known as "double standards," where participants were asked how they would advise a friend facing similar self-criticism.

VR roleplaying and self-criticism

Sixty-eight undergraduate psychology students, selected for their high self-criticism levels, were recruited from the University of Groningen. They were randomly assigned to either a treatment group, experiencing a VR session with perspective change, or a control group, undergoing a similar session without this feature.

Participants entered a virtual environment, acclimated themselves, and engaged in roleplays, where they extended compassion to a virtual character voicing their own self-criticisms. The treatment group additionally viewed replays of the session from the character's perspective, hearing their compassionate responses.

Before and after the sessions, participants completed assessments measuring self-criticism, self-compassion, and momentary effect. Results indicated a decrease in self-criticism and an increase in self-compassion for both groups. However, the perspective-changing element did not yield significant differences between the groups.

Potential therapeutic effects

VR therapy is already being used and has been proven to have several benefits. The study highlights the potential therapeutic effects of VR interventions in addressing self-criticism and enhancing self-compassion. While the intervention showed promising results, its direct effect remains uncertain, as changes in self-compassion and self-criticism occurred in both groups. The duration of these effects beyond immediate post-intervention assessment requires further exploration.