Abstract:

Virtual Reality (VR) technologies and avatars are reshaping youth identity development, making the online environment a primary vehicle for self-exploration while also increasing susceptibility to radicalisation. This paper examines the impacts of VR on minors, focusing on the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that facilitate the spread of extremist narratives. Conceptual analyses demonstrate how avatars function as "digital alter egos" and "identity probes," amplifying the Proteus Effect in immersive environments, which shapes self-perception and behaviour. Leveraging the Sympathy-Empathy (SE) system, radicalisation progresses through the amplification of emotional contagion and the neurobiological vulnerability of adolescents, particularly the immaturity of prefrontal regions. Three radicalisation trajectories are identified, including the critical “Parochial Empathy”, where strong solidarity toward the ingroup is dissociated from the capacity for empathy toward the outgroup, justifying violence. We conclude with the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach to mitigate the risks amplified by immersion and algorithmic amplification.