Interaction with the future self in virtual reality reduces self-defeating behavior in a sample of convicted offenders.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we test an intervention in which convicted offenders interacted with an age-progressed avatar representing their future selves in virtual reality. During the interaction, they reflected on their current lifestyle, alternating between the perspective of their present self and that of their future self. We hypothesized that this embodied experience would increase their ability to imagine themselves in the future and reduce their engagement in self-defeating behavior, as measured with a self-report survey. In line with expectations, results indicated that the interaction increased vividness of the future self compared to baseline and reduced self-defeating behavior, including alcohol use and overspending, one week later. In addition, increases in vividness were associated with

SUBMITTER: van Gelder JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8831494 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature