Do awe-inspiring VR environments impact creativity?

Abstract

This article aims to consolidate existing research on the intersection of virtual reality, awe and creativity, and to illustrate the type of undergraduate research that is feasible to conduct with a dedicated research lab and technical support. It is also hoped that readers may be inspired to seek awe in everyday experiences and in the natural wonders of the night sky.

In her final year applied psychology project, Natasha Cloran explored the impact of different virtual environments on people’s thinking and emotion, with particular focus on experiences of awe and creativity. Virtual Reality (VR) allows for researchers to meticulously control and measure people’s responses to different environments - such as immersive 3D versus flat 2D, or awe-inducing nature versus everyday settings. Can being placed in a virtually expansive scene lead to a parallel broadening of the mind in helpful ways? This paper is designed to outline the topic in an accessible format for a non-specialist audience.