"Similar-Self" vs. "Alt-Self": How Avatar Customization Impacts Trust Formation in Social VR and Its Transfer to Face-to-Face between Unacquainted Individuals

This study investigates how avatar customization in virtual reality (VR) impacts trust formation between unacquainted individuals and how such trust transfers to subsequent face-to-face (FtF) meetings. A user study with 48 participants was conducted, where participants were assigned to either a “Similar-Self” condition, with avatars resembling their real-world appearance, or an “Alt-Self” condition, with creative avatars. The results showed that “Similar-Self” avatars led to higher initial integrity-based trust perceptions, though both avatar conditions exhibited similar trust growth during VR encounters. Trust carried over from VR to FtF with a brief recalibration period and ultimately increased beyond VR levels in FtF encounters. This research provides insights into how VR can support the development of trust in early-stage interactions and offers implications for Social VR platforms to better support trustworthy interactions across virtual-physical boundaries.