Sensory immersion vs. cultural reflection: a multi-factor analysis of dual-process mechanisms in digital heritage engagement

Introduction: How do users develop deep psychological bonds with digital heritage environments in the absence of physical embodiment? Prior research has often conflated sensory arousal with cognitive identification. Guided by dual-process theory, we propose that digital heritage appropriation operates through two functionally dissociated pathways: a fast, hedonic route (System 1) driven by sensory stimulation and a slow, reflective route (System 2) driven by meaning-making. Methods: = 348) tested an extended stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine distinct antecedents of hedonic engagement and cultural identity. Results: = 0.012). Discussion: The observed dissociation supports a cognitive resource competition account, suggesting that high-fidelity narratives primarily engage the reflective self rather than the sensory self. In this study, ontological displacement is introduced as an interpretive lens to explain how cultural identity may function as a psychological anchor in contexts where physical spatial coordinates are absent, rather than as a directly operationalized mechanism. Practically, these findings support a dual-mode interface strategy that balances interactive agency with distraction-free narrative absorption to promote psychological sustainability.