Avatars, Identity, and Radicalization: the Psychological and Neurobiological Risks of VR for Youth

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 radicalization. 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 shape selfperception and behavior. Leveraging the Sympathy-Empathy (SE) system, radicalization progresses through the amplification of emotional contagion and the neurobiological vulnerability of adolescents. Three radicalization trajectories are identified, including the critical “Parochial Empathy”, where strong solidarity toward the in-group is dissociated from the capacity for empathy toward the out-group, justifying violence. We conclude with the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach to mitigate the risks amplified by immersion and algorithmic amplification.