The role of emotional involvement and trait absorption in the formation of spatial presence

Abstract

This study (N = 111) sought to assess the roles of emotional involvement and trait absorption in the formation process of spatial presence in a virtual environment. A 2 × 2 between-subjects design was employed with emotional involvement (low vs. high) as an experimental factor and trait absorption (low vs. high) as a quasi-experimental factor. The results indicate that both emotional involvement and trait absorption contribute to the formation of spatial presence. Furthermore, a positive interaction effect between emotional involvement and trait absorption on spatial presence was found. When controlling for other well-known contributing factors (cognitive involvement, the spatial situational model, and suspension of disbelief), the effects of emotional involvement and trait absorption remain stable. Regarding presence as a broad construct, these other factors are often conceptualized as part of the presence experience. Treating them instead as contributing factors and, thus, applying a narrow conceptualization of spatial presence, provides a clear insight of its formation process.