A person experiences flight in virtual reality, symbolizing the potential of VR to enhance empathy and promote prosocial behavior.

Soar to New Heights of Kindness: How Virtual Reality Superpowers Are Boosting Real-World Helping

Soraya Malik in Mind & Education August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Discover how the simple act of 'flying' in virtual reality can unlock a surge of generosity in the real world, transforming the way we think about empathy and helping others."

Have you ever wished you could fly? The dream of soaring through the air, like Superman, is a powerful one, captivating our imaginations and embodying a sense of freedom and capability. But what if that same dream could be a catalyst for kindness? Recent research explores a fascinating connection: How virtual reality (VR), and the superpowers it can grant, are not just entertaining—they are also powerful tools that can boost our inclination to help others in the real world.

Imagine stepping into a virtual world where you can effortlessly take flight, your arms propelling you through the cityscape. This isn't just about gaming or escapism; it's about the immersive power of VR to change how we perceive ourselves and interact with the world. This technology allows us to embody avatars with incredible abilities and, in turn, can subtly influence our actions and behaviors in the physical world. This raises a crucial question: can virtual experiences make us better people?

This article delves into a groundbreaking study that examined the impact of giving individuals the 'superpower' of flight within a VR environment. The findings are compelling, revealing that those who experienced the ability to fly in VR were significantly more likely to demonstrate helping behaviors in the real world. This research offers exciting insights into the potential of VR to cultivate empathy and promote prosocial actions, setting the stage for a future where technology and human kindness intersect.

Can Virtual Superpowers Make You More Helpful? The Science Behind the Flight of Altruism

A person experiences flight in virtual reality, symbolizing the potential of VR to enhance empathy and promote prosocial behavior.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, sought to understand if the simple act of 'flying' in VR could lead to increased helping behavior outside of the virtual world. Participants were divided into groups. One group experienced the sensation of flight, controlling their movements to soar through a virtual city, while the other group experienced a virtual helicopter ride. The premise was simple: could the experience of having a superpower, like flight, trigger a more compassionate response in everyday life?

The research design involved a two-by-two setup, where participants were either assigned to experience the superpower of flight or be passengers in a helicopter. The participants were also assigned helping tasks such as finding a lost diabetic child or simply touring the virtual city. The results were remarkable. Those who experienced 'super-flight' were more likely to assist the experimenter with a small, everyday task after the VR session—specifically, picking up spilled pens—compared to those who had been on the virtual helicopter ride. This small action indicated a notable difference in their inclination to help.

The 'super-flight' group showed a significant increase in helping behavior, like picking up spilled pens.
Participants in the helicopter condition, who did not experience the same level of agency, did not show the same increase in helping behavior.
The study implies that the sense of control and the experience of possessing a unique ability in VR can significantly influence real-world actions.

The researchers propose that the power of flight primed concepts and stereotypes associated with superheroes, leading to an increased willingness to help. This suggests that the simple act of inhabiting a virtual world with enhanced capabilities can activate deeply embedded concepts related to heroism and altruism, leading to real-world changes in behavior. The study underscores that VR can be a powerful tool for influencing behavior.

Beyond the Skies: The Future of VR and Human Kindness

This groundbreaking study offers a compelling glimpse into the potential of VR technology to foster positive change. By harnessing the immersive qualities of VR, we can explore the potential for enhancing empathy, fostering prosocial behavior, and transforming how we approach helping and kindness. This research opens the door to new possibilities in fields like education, therapy, and social interventions, pointing towards a future where technology helps us become more empathetic and helpful to each other.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055003, Alternate LINK

Title: Virtual Superheroes: Using Superpowers In Virtual Reality To Encourage Prosocial Behavior

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Authors: Robin S. Rosenberg, Shawnee L. Baughman, Jeremy N. Bailenson

Published: 2013-01-30

Everything You Need To Know

How can experiencing flight in virtual reality influence real-world behavior?

Experiencing flight in virtual reality can significantly increase helping behaviors in the real world. Research indicates that individuals who experience the 'superpower' of flight in VR are more likely to demonstrate altruistic actions, suggesting that virtual experiences can indeed influence our actions and behaviors in the physical world. The study showed that the 'super-flight' group were more likely to assist with tasks such as picking up spilled pens, demonstrating an increased willingness to help compared to the control group. While this study highlights the potential benefits, it is important to consider the long-term effects and whether these changes in behavior are sustainable.

What was the design of the study that explored the impact of virtual superpowers on helping behavior?

The study employed a two-by-two research design. Participants were divided into two primary groups: one group experienced the sensation of flight, allowing them to control their movements to fly through a virtual city, while the other group experienced a virtual helicopter ride. In addition, the participants were given tasks such as locating a missing diabetic child. The key aspect was comparing the helping behaviors of those who experienced the 'superpower' of flight against those who were passengers in a helicopter, to see if the experience of flight triggered a more compassionate response in everyday life.

What were the key findings of the PLOS ONE study regarding 'super-flight' and helping behavior?

The PLOS ONE study demonstrated that those who experienced 'super-flight' were more inclined to assist the experimenter with a simple, everyday task after the VR session, such as picking up spilled pens. Participants in the helicopter condition, who did not experience the same level of agency, did not show the same increase in helping behavior. This indicates that the sense of control and the experience of possessing a unique ability in VR can significantly influence real-world actions. The study implies that the experience of flight primed concepts and stereotypes associated with superheroes, leading to an increased willingness to help.

How might virtual reality be used in the future to promote human kindness and empathy?

Virtual reality can be harnessed to explore the potential for enhancing empathy, fostering prosocial behavior, and transforming how we approach helping and kindness. This research opens the door to new possibilities in fields like education, therapy, and social interventions. By providing immersive experiences that allow individuals to embody different perspectives or possess unique abilities, VR could be used to cultivate a deeper understanding of others' experiences and encourage prosocial actions. However, the long-term effects and the potential for misuse must be carefully considered when integrating VR into these fields.

What is the suggested mechanism by which virtual superpowers, like flight, increase helping behavior?

The researchers suggest that the power of flight primed concepts and stereotypes associated with superheroes, leading to an increased willingness to help. This implies that inhabiting a virtual world with enhanced capabilities can activate deeply embedded concepts related to heroism and altruism, leading to real-world changes in behavior. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying psychological processes and to explore whether other types of virtual superpowers or experiences can elicit similar effects. The priming of superhero concepts is a key factor in understanding the observed increase in helping behavior.