Embodied Motivation: Spatial and Temporal Aspects of Approach and Avoidance in Virtual Reality

ABSTRACT This study investigates how object affordances modulate approach and avoidance behaviors in virtual reality (VR). The primary hypotheses are that 1) motivational relevance shapes facilitation or inhibition of behaviors while interacting with virtual objects, and that 2) approach-avoidance can be quantified using spatial and temporal aspects of behavior in VR. An experiment was conducted to track and examine user behaviors during a virtual photo-sorting task that used images with varying valence and arousal levels. Spatial indicators of approach and avoidance were operationalized as the distance between the individual and the photo during the task. Temporal indicators were operationalized as the speed and latency of gazing at the objects, selection order, and sorting behavior. Results show that stimulus valence and arousal significantly affect speed and latency during object selection, demonstrating motivational reactions to virtual objects. Exploratory analyses also revealed varying patterns of object selection across individuals. Overall, this study has implications for the design of virtual environments and supports the use of VR technology in studying motivational processes and behaviors relevant for media psychologists.