The current meta-analysis aims to investigate and clarify existing research on virtual reality (VR) as a medium to elicit empathy. An exhaustive literature search (updated to February 29, 2020) enabled us to locate seven published articles, yielding a total of nine independent samples. The results reveal statistically significant positive changes in perspective-taking outcomes after VR exposure (d+ = 0.51 [95 percent CI: 0.15-0.88]) but they did not note in empathy (d+ = 0.21 [95 percent confidence interval, CI: -0.37-0.79]). A potential limitation of this work is the low number of studies included. Implications and directions for theoretical development and empirical research are also discussed.
Keywords: empathy; meta-analysis; perspective-taking; prosocial behavior; virtual reality.