Virtual Reality as a Tool for Examining the Role of L1 and L2 in Enhancing Empathy and Reducing Ethnocentrism: Evidence From a Micro-Longitudinal Study

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dc.abstract.enResearch questions: Some researchers propose that using a second language (L2) enhances empathy by broadening perspectives, while studies on the foreign-language effect suggest L2 may reduce empathy by dampening emotions and increasing cognitive control. This study examines the influence of L1 and L2 on empathy and ethnocentrism, employing virtual reality (VR), a tool fostering understanding of diverse perspectives. Design: Polish university students, late bilinguals (N = 111), participated in a 2 (L1 vs. L2) × 3 (Pretest, Posttest 1, Posttest 2) mixed-design study, with all materials and subtitles in the assigned language. During a 9-minute VR experience, participants embodied Polish and Chinese students involved in a misunderstanding, heard their thoughts, and received cultural explanations. Data and analysis: L2 exposure significantly enhanced cognitive empathy and reduced ethnocentrism immediately after the VR experience, with cognitive empathy remaining elevated 2 weeks later. Conclusions: Results suggest that foreign language use in immersive VR environments may facilitate perspective-taking and cultural understanding through mechanisms consistent with the stunted intuitions model and cultural frame-switching. Originality and implications: As the first to test the foreign-language effect in VR, we situated our findings within existing literature and outlined future research directions.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Warszawie
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorHekiert-Małozięć, Daniela
dc.contributor.authorGórska, Gabriela
dc.contributor.authorStasiak, Iga
dc.contributor.authorMilczarski, Wojciech
dc.contributor.authorIgras-Cybulska, Magdalena
dc.contributor.authorKmiotek, Łukasz
dc.contributor.authorMuda, Rafał
dc.date.access2026-06-23
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-23T11:25:57Z
dc.date.available2026-06-23T11:25:57Z
dc.date.created2026-06-18
dc.date.issued2026-06-18
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2021/05/X/HS6/01498
dc.description.granttitleMiniatura
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/13670069261447430
dc.identifier.eissn1756-6878
dc.identifier.issn1367-0069
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2438
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13670069261447430
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsOther
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_REPOSITORY
dc.subject.enforeign-language effect
dc.subject.enempathy
dc.subject.enethnocentrism
dc.subject.envirtual reality perspective-taking
dc.subject.enL1-L2 processing
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleVirtual Reality as a Tool for Examining the Role of L1 and L2 in Enhancing Empathy and Reducing Ethnocentrism: Evidence From a Micro-Longitudinal Study
dc.title.journalInternational Journal of Bilingualism
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle