VR Gender Identity Exploration Environment

This virtual reality environment was developed to investigate how immersive technologies may support the exploration of gender identity among transgender individuals. The paradigm is designed around avatar customization and embodiment, allowing participants to construct and experience a virtual representation that reflects their ideal self following gender transition.

At the beginning of the experience, participants can personalize their own avatar using the Meta Avatar 2 SDK, modifying its appearance in order to create a representation that is personally meaningful and consistent with their desired gender expression. The application requires a valid Meta Developer App ID / application key to access the avatar services and related SDK functionalities.

Once the avatar has been created, participants complete an initial embodiment phase aimed at strengthening the sense of identification with and ownership over the virtual body. The environment then guides them through a series of structured tasks and self-report assessments focused on gender identity, self-perception, and the experience of embodying an avatar representing the ideal post-transition self.

The entire procedure is designed to take place within virtual reality, allowing participants to interact with and evaluate their virtual representation while maintaining continuity of the immersive experience. The paradigm therefore combines avatar personalization, virtual embodiment, and psychological assessment within a single controlled experimental environment.

The application is currently being used as part of an ongoing research project examining the potential of virtual reality as a tool for gender identity exploration in transgender populations. Data collection is still in progress, and the paradigm should therefore be considered an active research prototype that may continue to evolve as the study develops.