Abstract
In a contemporary context marked by digital divides and global crises, traditional mental health interventions face unprecedented challenges. This research proposes a breakthrough perspective: Virtual Reality (VR) is not merely a technological tool but a novel “collectively co-constructed psychological space” capable of redefining the very concept of mental health. We explore how VR can transform into a digital empathy platform with algorithmically modulated emotional ecosystems, enabling users from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in the production rather than mere consumption of mental health. This participatory design transcends traditional therapeutic models, forming dynamically evolving networks of cross-cultural psychological resilience. This study uniquely integrates posthumanist theory with digital affect studies to propose a “socio-techno-emotional symbiont” conceptual framework, reexamining subjectivity and collective psychological resilience in virtual environments. We analyze how digital existence reconfigures emotional connections, creating new psychological communities that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. Through theoretical exploration of “decentralized psychological support,” this research challenges Western-centric mental health paradigms, proposing how diverse cultural value systems can merge in virtual spaces to form novel conceptions of psychological well-being. This conceptual framework not only rethinks the relationship between technology and mental health but also offers a disruptive perspective for addressing global psychological crises.
Presenters
Chengcheng YinPhD Candidate, School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Unseen Sustainability: Addressing Hidden Risks to Long-Term Wellbeing for All
KEYWORDS
Virtual reality, Collective co-construction, Cross-cultural psychological resilience, Digital empathy, Posthumanism
