Ethnoacting in VR: DIY Soft Skills Development

Ethnoacting in VR is an innovative intervention inviting participants to engage in "ethnoacting." This means they repeat real-life testimonies while listening to them through headphones, fully immersed in a tailored virtual reality (VR) environment. The VR setting is designed to replicate the world of the testimony, enhancing the sense of presence and empathy.

By applying modeling theories from psychology, this project explores how VR can help specific social groups or professionals build essential soft skills that support their wellbeing. Tailored survey research will assess the impact and benefits for these groups.

The core team includes expertise in performance (Evi Stamatiou, Principal Investigator), media (Oluwatosin Sanni, Co-Investigator), and psychology (Volker Thoma, Co-Investigator). The project has already expanded into disciplines like fashion (Kamilla Jones, Co-Investigator), nursing (Georgina Cox, Co-Investigator), and social work and disability (Gosia Kwiatkowska, Co-Investigator), reflecting its broad potential impact.