# Beyond Presence: Exploring Empathy within the Metaverse
## 4 Specific Empathy in the Metaverse
### VR Technology and Empathic Response  
Approximately 21 studies have utilized VR technology to prompt empathetic responses, predominantly through the creation of scenarios or storytelling environments. For instance, [PERSON] et al. employed VR to stimulate empathy through interactive storytelling, utilizing devices such as POV (point of view) shifts and flashbacks to establish deeper emotional connections [18]. However, their focus was primarily on design considerations, VR implementation, and plans for measuring empathy through a think-aloud protocol. A more in-depth evaluation of the impact of changing POVs and flashbacks on player emotions and engagement could provide valuable insights into the project's success. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. 's study compared the effectiveness of VR with interactive scenes, like POV swaps and flashbacks, to passive 360 deg videos in promoting student engagement and empathy for soldiers' sacrifices in history learning [19]. Although the study demonstrated that highly engaged students exhibited higher levels of empathy, it did not investigate whether increased engagement directly leads to increased empathy or if other influencing factors are at play. Additionally, another study explored VR as a platform for researching cultural imagination, memory studies, and public engagement, highlighting its potential for cultivating intimacy and empathy through VR interviews and as a form of art therapy for traumatic memories [20]. [PERSON] et al. found that the use of the Virtual Journalist tool enhances thinking-based empathy and can bridge cultural empathy gaps, providing new insights into how culture influences empathy. However, the study mentions the limited size of the sample, which could potentially limit the generalizability of the findings [21]. [PERSON] et al., on the other hand, conducted a study using a VR training tool to aid psychiatrists in developing empathy for patients of color by simulating real-world scenarios using lifelike avatars; this study also had very few samples [22]. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. aimed to explore and measure specific empathy towards the hardships faced by the international community through a virtual reality experiment, with the purpose of raising awareness and understanding of their unique challenges [23]. The key finding of [PERSON]'s study was that virtual reality technology has the potential to stimulate empathy through embodied interaction and enhance empathic accuracy, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of  
Figure 3: Research on specific empathy in the metaverse. others' perspectives and emotions [24]. In contrast, [PERSON] et al. found that participants expressed a desire to help but felt overwhelmed and lacked an understanding of climate change [25]. [PERSON] et al. demonstrated the successful use of VRPT to induce empathy towards out-groups, highlighting the potential of VR technology as a tool for promoting intercultural sensitivity and understanding [26]. Research has also delved into eliciting empathy in children. For instance, [PERSON] et al. utilized a VR classroom experience to alter attitudes and perceptions towards individuals with autism, suggesting its potential to enhance empathy and understanding [27]. Similarly, [PERSON] and [PERSON] demonstrated that virtual reality technology can create immersive environments that foster empathy and understanding of others' experiences, regardless of individual backgrounds or contexts [28]. Furthermore, another study by [PERSON] and [PERSON] focused on designing and evaluating empathic experiences of young children in VR environments using a VR empathy game, providing children with opportunities to interact with VR characters representing various emotions, such as fear and anger [29]. Empathy elicitation in psychological contexts has been extensively studied. [PERSON] et al. found that biofeedback based on EEG frontal asymmetry resulted in higher self-reported empathy compared to respiration rate feedback, with both combined leading to the highest perceived empathy [30].