Approachability and Credibility of Virtual Character Faces: The Role of the Horizontal Viewing Angle

Objective The present work explores how the horizontal viewing angle of a virtual character’s face influences perceptions of credibility and approachability. Background When encountering virtual characters, people rely both on credibility and approachability judgments to form a first impression of the depicted virtual character. Research shows that certain perceptions are preferred either on frontal or tilted faces, but not how approachability or credibility judgments relate to horizontal viewing angles in finer granularity between 0° and 45°. Method 52 participants performed a two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task rating 240 pairwise comparisons of 20 virtual character faces shown in four horizontal viewing angles (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) on approachability and credibility. They also rated scales on individual differences based on the BIS-BAS framework (behavioral inhibition system, drive, and reward responsiveness), self-esteem, and personality traits (neuroticism, loneliness). Results Both approachability and credibility were negatively related to the horizontal viewing angle, but the negative relationship was less pronounced for approachability. Notably, 15° tilted faces were associated with higher approachability than frontal faces by people scoring high in reward responsiveness, drive, and self-esteem, and scoring low in neuroticism and loneliness. Conclusion Our findings highlight the conditions under which showing a virtual character’s face is preferred in a horizontally 15° tilted over a frontal position. Application The differential impact of the horizontal viewing angle on approachability and credibility should be considered when displaying virtual character faces.