Psychology of Augmented and Mixed Reality

The release of the latest mixed reality (MR) headsets that leverage video passthrough to blend digital and real-world content has brought new questions about its influence on individual and social behavior and perceptions. In a recent study conducted by the lab that is published in Technology, Mind, and Behavior, we document that user experiences were filled with moments of both awe and unsettlement. Our findings include anecdotes of simulator sickness, distance and depth misperceptions and social absence, a phenomenon where the headset user perceives those around them as less present. These suggest that MR headsets change the way we interact with others and the environment around us. The next steps to our work include exploring how the use of MR changes dyadic and group interactions and interpersonal trust via perceptual conflict, as well as its relationship to socio-psychological constructs such as isolation, loneliness, and ostracism.

For more information

For more information, contact Eugy Han (eugyoung@stanford.edu) and Monique Santoso (mtsantoso@stanford.edu)