Being present in virtual reality and augmented reality: Explicating the psychology of immersive technology (XR)

This chapter reviews the basic psychological characteristics of immersive user experiences, provided by, e. g., virtual or augmented reality technologies. Different sensations of presence define the core of the experience, yet these might be embedded into a knowing user state ‘that this is not really happening’ (media awareness). The chapter discusses how presence gives rise to a new type of perceived realism, and how the immersive experience triggers a number of common cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects, some more desirable than others.