Does the Need for Control Hinder Sense of Presence in Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) has witnessed significant growth in the mental health field. However, clinical observations reveal substantial variability across individuals’ responses to VR. This diversity could be attributed to differences in the sense of presence, a key factor in VR’s efficacy. Understanding the influence of personality traits on shaping the sense of presence in VR is essential, as it holds the potential to enhance the effectiveness of VR interventions. In the current study, we investigate the potential impact of the need for control on one’s sense of presence in VR, hypothesizing that a higher need for control is associated with lower presence levels. We conducted research with 40 adults who completed questionnaires (assessing perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, experiential avoidance, Big Five, sense of presence, anxiety level) and engaged in a VR immersion. Results suggest that the need for control positively influences the sense of presence, which is contrary to the literature. A discussion is proposed to explore the impact of high need for control, indicating that its effects may depend on the anxiety-inducing nature of the immersion condition. We put forth an innovative theoretical model on how a strong desire for control could affect the sense of presence in different immersive conditions. Our findings warrant further investigations in this direction.