Self-Presence and the Effects of the Avatar on Health and Appearance

Self-presence, defined as the degree of connectedness with one's avatar as well as the effects of the avatar on perceptions of oneself, suggests that interactions with an avatar may have real implications for how one perceives and treats the body offline. A study examining the influence of the "Second Life" avatar on "Second Life" users' offline appearance, health, and well-being is discussed, along with the importance of examining self-presence as a theoretical mechanism. This research engages with the idea that immersion with an avatar via social virtual play has an influence on our health offline.