Visual design for empathy in virtual reality: A systematic review of emotional engagement (2018-2023)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-13-2026

Abstract

This study investigates how visual design elements-specifically color, lighting, and spatial composition-affect emotional and empathetic engagement in Virtual Reality (VR) environments. It focuses on adult users across diverse domains such as education, psychotherapy, and humanitarian advocacy. A systematic review of literature from 2018 to 2023 was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 21 peer-reviewed studies were selected based on their focus on visual modalities in VR and empathy-related outcomes for adult users. The review identifies a consistent impact of visual elements on users' empathetic and emotional responses in immersive VR contexts. However, it also uncovers key challenges: (1) a lack of standardized, validated metrics for measuring empathy in VR; (2) a fragmented approach to visual emotion analysis that isolates design elements rather than considering their interplay; and (3) limited investigation into cultural variability in interpreting visual stimuli. This study offers a novel contribution by synthesizing visual design practices in VR to foster empathy, a focus not previously addressed in our research. Unlike existing studies, including any prior work by our team, this review integrates cross-cultural perspectives, proposes standardized empathy metrics, and examines the interplay of visual elements (color, lighting, spatial composition) across diverse domains, providing a cohesive framework for empathy-driven VR design.

Keywords

Empathy, Emotional, Review, Virtual reality

Publication Title

Applied Intelligence

ISSN

0924-669X

DOI

10.1007/s10489-025-06970-9

Volume

56

Issue

3

First Page

87

Publisher

Springer

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