The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of REVISE (REalidad Virtual Inmersiva y SExualidad), an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention designed to promote empathy and reduce sexual harassment behaviors in heterosexual cisgender men.
The main questions that this study aims to answer are as follows.
Does experiencing gender swapping in IVR increase empathy towards survivors of sexual harassment?
Does the intervention modify attitudes toward gender roles and sexual harassment?
Researchers will compare the three experimental groups to evaluate the effects of IVR:
1. Identity Exchange Group with Exposure to Sexual Harassment: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a VR harassment scenario. 2. Identity Exchange Group without Harassment Exposure: Participants embodied their partner's identity in a neutral VR scenario. 3. Third-person Observer Group: Participants observe a harassment scenario in VR from their own perspective.
Participants will:
1. Attend one virtual reality session in a laboratory setting. 2. Undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments and a three-month follow-up. 3. Complete self-report questionnaires and physiological measures (eye tracking and pupillometry). 4. Participate in semi-structured interviews about their experiences. This study aims to explore how immersive VR embodiment can be used as a tool for gender violence prevention by fostering perspective-taking and behavioral change.
Participants must be between 18 and 39 years old.
Couples must have been in a romantic relationship for at least six months.
Both partners must provide explicit informed consent to participate.
Participants must be able to read and write in Spanish to ensure comprehension of the study materials.
Individuals with any physical condition that may hinder the use of VR equipment (e.g., epilepsy or severe motion sickness).
Individuals with a history of sexual harassment or problematic substance use, including drug or alcohol abuse.
Individuals experiencing significant mental health difficulties that require intensive treatment.
Participants with prior exposure to similar VR-based gender perspective-taking interventions.
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Lead sponsor
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain
Collaborator
European Social Fund
Collaborator