"Mom, what are you painting?" Virtual reality assessment of mother-daughter dynamics through joint art-making

100%

"Mom, what are you painting?" Virtual reality assessment of mother-daughter dynamics through joint art-making

Introduction: This study explored the use of the Virtual Reality Joint Painting Procedure to examine the relationship dynamics between mother-daughter dyads in middle childhood (ages nine to twelve). The research focused on art-based interventions conducted in the virtual reality space.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with sixteen mothers who participated in the Virtual Reality Joint Painting Procedure.

Results: The interviews yielded three main themes: dyadic communication in the virtual reality space, the advantages and disadvantages of three-dimensional painting in virtual reality, and the tripartite relationship between the therapist, mother, and daughter in the therapeutic space. The findings suggest that virtual reality fostered an innovative therapeutic space that encourages freer and more open interactions between mothers and daughters using avatars that enable unmediated emotional expression. The virtual space allowed the dyads to focus on emotional and creative communication and increased their grasp of relationship dynamics.

Discussion: The virtual space allowed the dyads to focus on emotional and creative communication and increased their grasp of relationship dynamics. These findings contribute to the literature on the uses of art in the virtual reality space from the perspective of mothers.

Introduction

Art-based parent-child therapy

Artmaking in virtual reality

Materials and method

Sample

Tools

Joint painting procedure

Materials

Instructions

Semi-structured interview

Procedure

Data processing

Ethical approval

Results

First theme: dyadic communication and conflict in the VR space

Verbal communication

Contact-based communication - the immersive body versus "virtual" physical contact

Interpersonal-implicit (unconscious) communication in the virtual space

Dyad one

Erasing to create separateness versus the desire for closeness - shifting power dynamics in the dyad

Scribbling and withdrawing into oneself

Scribbling on mom

Withdrawing into oneself by enclosing the self or confining the mother

Body postures when painting in VR - closeness versus distance and emerging mother-daughter conflict

Second theme: Three-D painting in VR and components of the mother-daughter relationship

The three-dimensional house

Recurring images and integrating text

Third theme: the immersive therapist in the dual therapeutic space

Discussion

The VR-JPP tool in virtual space - the immersive body, with no eye or physical contact

Body positions when painting in VR: face-to-face, back-to-back, flexible movement and distances

The immersive therapist

Limitations and directions for further research

Data availability statement

Ethics statement

Author contributions

Conflict of interest

Generative AI statement

Overview

The research explores mother-daughter relationships in middle childhood through a novel art-based intervention in virtual reality, emphasizing emotional communication and the benefits of immersive environments in therapeutic settings. The findings indicate that VR facilitates open interactions and deeper understanding of relationship dynamics.

Key Points

1The study utilizes a Virtual Reality Joint Painting Procedure to evaluate mother-daughter interactions
2Interviews revealed key themes in communication and the therapeutic relationship
3Virtual reality enhances creative expression and emotional processing
4The research addresses gaps in existing literature on VR applications in art therapy
5Findings suggest potential benefits of VR interventions for strengthening mother-daughter bonds

Details

Authors: Aya Bernhard, Liat Shamri Zeevi
Category: Psychology

PDF
The Concept of Stress Adaptation
This document explores the concept of stress adaptation, detailing definitions, physiological responses, and coping strategies related to stress as a biological response, environmental event, and transactional relationship.
PDF
3 Concepts of Psychobiology
This chapter explores key concepts in psychobiology, focusing on the interplay of genetics, neuroendocrinology, psychoneuroimmunology, and psychopharmacology in understanding psychiatric disorders and their implications for nursing practice.
PDF
Psychological Disorders and Specific Symptoms
This document outlines various psychological disorders, including their symptoms, classifications, and characteristics, focusing particularly on dissociative and depressive disorders. It serves as an educational resource for understanding these mental health conditions.
PDF
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG'S 6 STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
This document outlines Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which posits that individuals progress through six stages of moral reasoning, categorized into three levels: preconventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Each stage illustrates how morality evolves from obedience to authority to adherence to universal ethical principles.
PDF
Erikson: Post-Freudian Theory
This document explores Erik Erikson's theories on psychosocial development, especially the concept of identity crisis and the influence of social and historical factors on personality formation throughout the human lifespan.