The META TOO project took part in Meeting Mind XR, held from 25 to 27 June in Berlin. The conference brought together leading scientists working on Fundamental XR Research, Clinical XR Research, and Human–Computer Interaction on XR and Mental Health, providing a unique forum to discuss the opportunities and challenges of immersive technologies.
At the event, Prof. María V. Sánchez-Vives presented her talk “XR for Behavioral Change: Reducing Aggression”. She described how her research group has applied virtual reality to reduce violent behavior, particularly among perpetrators of intimate partner violence. These VR-based interventions are already being introduced in prison settings, showing promising results in rehabilitation and behavior modification.
Prof. Sánchez-Vives also emphasized the broader potential of immersive technologies within the justice system, highlighting their capacity to create perspective-taking experiences that can shift attitudes and behaviors in powerful ways.
Following her presentation, Prof. Sánchez-Vives introduced the META TOO Project, which investigates the nature and prevalence of behaviors perceived as inappropriate or harassing in social VR environments.
Within this framework, the project is conducting ongoing studies that leverage virtual reality and perspective-taking to reduce gender bias. These efforts aim not only to improve interactions in online immersive spaces, but also to positively influence real-world social behavior.
By addressing harassment in emerging digital environments and testing innovative interventions, META TOO contributes to a deeper understanding of how immersive technologies can promote safer, more equitable, and more inclusive virtual communities.
The discussions at Meeting Mind XR underscored how XR research is rapidly evolving, with significant implications for mental health, social interaction, and justice systems. The META TOO project is proud to contribute to this dialogue and to continue developing new approaches for tackling harassment and bias in both virtual and real-world contexts.
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