The Impact of Virtual Reality Social Platforms on Autobiographical Memory and Self-disclosure: An Experimental Study

This study explores the impact of two different interaction modalities: traditional face-to-face (F2F) versus virtual reality (VR) social platforms, on autobiographical memory specificity, self-disclosure, and relational closeness, with a focus on. The study employed a within-subject design to allow for direct comparison between the two conditions. In each condition participants were asked to recall and describe positive memories linked to cue words across three different semantic areas: neutral, food-related and body-related. Following each session, participants completed questionnaires designed to measure levels of self-disclosure and perceived intimacy and closeness with the interlocutor. The hypothesis was that VR social platforms, with their perceived safety and anonymity, would facilitate more specific memory recall and greater self-disclosure, particularly for emotionally charged stimuli related to eating and body image. Contrary to expectations, results indicated that F2F interactions yielded higher memory specificity for food-related stimuli. No significant difference in memory specificity was found between modalities for neutral or body-related stimuli. Additionally, perceived self-disclosure and relational closeness with the interlocutor scores were significantly higher in F2F settings, suggesting that physical presence enhances perceived connection. This study contributes to understanding how different interaction environments affect psychological outcomes, which is critical for developing effective therapeutic interventions, especially for sensitive topics like body image and eating attitudes.