As virtual reality games and films rise in popularity around the world, so could the levels of empathy in people. Researchers in Finland studied how people react when looking at images of faces, and they’ve found that 3D images transfer more emotion to the viewer than simple 2D photographs. When we look at a face, our brain quickly tries to read the facial expression, pick up emotions from it and guess the mental state of that person. With graphics of virtual reality becoming so finely defined, our brains pick up subtle details in one’s facial expression, causing a strong emotional reaction to it. These feelings will certainly make our viewing experiences more realistic, and could create a stronger sense of empathy in people.
Virtual-reality games could really make you feel more empathetic
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