Real moral problems in the use of virtual reality

Ramirez, Erick Jose; LaBarge, Scott

doi:10.1007/s10676-018-9473-5

Cited by 66Virtual Reality Applications and ImpactsCultural Studies and PostmodernismPhilosophical Ethics and Theory

Real moral problems in the use of virtual reality

Ramirez, Erick Jose, LaBarge, Scott·2018·Ethics and Information Technology

DOI 10.1007/s10676-018-9473-5

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s10676-018-9473-5

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

There is a limitation to the extent to which current forms of the metaverse can authentically generate real-world representations, as the representation of selves is a characterisation rather than an accurate depiction.
“which is supported by Ramirez & LaBarge, (2018), who argue that there is a limitation to the extent to which current forms of the metaverse can authentically generate real-world representations, as the representation of selves is a characterisation rather than an accurate depiction.”
From Virtual Reality Risks for Children in the Metaverse: An Examination through Criminological Perspectives (2026) · cites this paper as Ramirez & LaBarge, (2018)

Behavioral Study of obedience.
Milgram, S. (1963) · The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0040525 · Cited by 4,918 · see citing works
Philosophy and Public Affairs
(2000) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511563836 · Cited by 3,602 · see citing works
Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy
Williams, B. (2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203969847 · Cited by 2,723 · see citing works
Responsibility and Control: A Theory of Moral Responsibility
Fischer, J. M., & Ravizza, M. (1998) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511814594 · Cited by 2,249 · see citing works
Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in eastern and western countries: A meta-analytic review
Anderson, C. A., Shibuya, A., Ihori, N., Swing, E. L., Bushman, B. J., Sakamoto, A., Rothstein, H. R., & Saleem, M. (2010) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0018251 · Cited by 2,048 · see citing works
From presence to consciousness through virtual reality.
Sanchez-Vives, M. V., & Slater, M. (2005) · Nature reviews. Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn1651 · Cited by 1,831 · see citing works
How Immersive Is Enough? A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Immersive Technology on User Presence
Cummings, J. J., & Bailenson, J. N. (2016) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2015.1015740 · Cited by 1,749 · see citing works
Affect, culture, and morality, or is it wrong to eat your dog?
Haidt, J., Koller, S. H., & Dias, M. G. (1993) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.65.4.613 · Cited by 1,686 · see citing works
The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect
Foot, P. (2002) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199252866.003.0002 · Cited by 1,374 · see citing works
The Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model
Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2013) · Journal of Communication · doi:10.1111/jcom.12024 · Cited by 1,340 · see citing works
Affective interactions using virtual reality: the link between presence and emotions
Riva, G., Mantovani, F., Capideville, C. S., Preziosa, A., Morganti, F., Villani, D., Gaggioli, A., Botella, C., & Alcañiz, M. (2007) · CyberPsychology & Behavior · doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9993 · Cited by 1,111 · see citing works
Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy.
Nagel, T., & Williams, B. (1986) · The Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.2307/2026097 · Cited by 996 · see citing works
Affective outcomes of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and specific phobias: A meta-analysis
Parsons, T. D., & Rizzo, A. A. (2008) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.07.007 · Cited by 994 · see citing works
Virtues and Vices and Other Essays in Moral Philosophy
Donnelly, J. (1979) · International Philosophical Quarterly · doi:10.5840/ipq197919434 · Cited by 851 · see citing works
Virtual Reality for Enhanced Ecological Validity and Experimental Control in the Clinical, Affective and Social Neurosciences
Parsons, T. D. (2015) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00660 · Cited by 837 · see citing works
Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today?
Burger, J. M. (2009) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/a0010932 · Cited by 641 · see citing works
A Virtual Reprise of the Stanley Milgram Obedience Experiments
Slater, M., Antley, A., Davison, A. R., Swapp, D., Guger, C., Barker, C., Pistrang, N., & Sanchez-Vives, M. V. (2006) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000039 · Cited by 632 · see citing works
Moral Responsibility and Determinism: The Cognitive Science of Folk Intuitions
Nichols, S., & Knobe, J. (2007) · Noûs · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0068.2007.00666.x · Cited by 558 · see citing works
The strategy of model-based science
Godfrey‐Smith, P. (2006) · Biology & Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s10539-006-9054-6 · Cited by 549 · see citing works
An Experiment on Public Speaking Anxiety in Response to Three Different Types of Virtual Audience
Pertaub, D.-P., Slater, M., & Barker, C. (2002) · PRESENCE Virtual and Augmented Reality · doi:10.1162/105474602317343668 · Cited by 497 · see citing works
Experiencing Nature: Embodying Animals in Immersive Virtual Environments Increases Inclusion of Nature in Self and Involvement With Nature
Ahn, S. J., Bostick, J., Ogle, E., Nowak, K. L., McGillicuddy, K. T., & Bailenson, J. N. (2016) · Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication · doi:10.1111/jcc4.12173 · Cited by 497 · see citing works
Recommendations for Good Scientific Practice and the Consumers of VR-Technology
Madary, M., & Metzinger, T. K. (2016) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2016.00003 · Cited by 435 · see citing works
Virtual Superheroes: Using Superpowers in Virtual Reality to Encourage Prosocial Behavior
Rosenberg, R. S., Baughman, S., & Bailenson, J. N. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055003 · Cited by 391 · see citing works
Is virtual reality emotionally arousing? Investigating five emotion inducing virtual park scenarios
Felnhofer, A., Kothgassner, O. D., Schmidt, M., Heinzle, A.-K., Beutl, L., Hlavacs, H., & Kryspin‐Exner, I. (2015) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2015.05.004 · Cited by 385 · see citing works
EmpathyPhilosophical and Psychological Perspectives
Coplan, A., & Goldie, P. (2011) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199539956.001.0001 · Cited by 372 · see citing works
Modelling and representing: An artefactual approach to model-based representation
Knuuttila, T. (2011) · Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A · doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2010.11.034 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
Empathy: philosophical and psychological perspectives
Coplan, A. (2012) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.49-6197 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Psychological and physiological human responses to simulated and real environments: a comparison between photographs, 360° panoramas, and virtual reality
Higuera-Trujillo, J. L., López-Tarruella Maldonado, J., & Llinares Millán, C. (2017) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.05.006 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
On the ethics of psychological research
Schlenker, B. R., & Forsyth, D. R. (1977) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/0022-1031(77)90006-3 · Cited by 292 · see citing works
A review of the use of psychophysiological methods in game research
Kivikangas, J. M., Chanel, G., Cowley, B. U., Ekman, I., Salminen, M., Järvelä, S., & Ravaja, N. (2011) · Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds · doi:10.1386/jgvw.3.3.181_1 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Homuncular Flexibility in Virtual Reality
Won, A. S., Bailenson, J. N., Lee, J. H. M., & Lanier, J. (2015) · Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication · doi:10.1111/jcc4.12107 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
Virtual Reality for Research in Social Neuroscience
Parsons, T. D., Gaggioli, A., & Riva, G. (2017) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci7040042 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality-Graded Exposure Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Active Duty Service Members with Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
McLay, R. N., Wood, D. P., Webb-Murphy, J. A., Spira, J. L., Wiederhold, M. D., Pyne, J. M., & Wiederhold, B. K. (2011) · Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking · doi:10.1089/cyber.2011.0003 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Virtual morality: Emotion and action in a simulated three-dimensional “trolley problem”.
Navarrete, C. D., McDonald, M. M., Mott, M. L., & Asher, B. D. (2011) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0025561 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Affective basis of judgment-behavior discrepancy in virtual experiences of moral dilemmas
Patil, I., Cogoni, C., Zangrando, N., Chittaro, L., & Silani, G. (2013) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2013.870091 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
The Effects of Media Violence Exposure On Criminal Aggression
Savage, J., & Yancey, C. (2008) · Criminal Justice and Behavior · doi:10.1177/0093854808316487 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Longitudinal effects of media violence on aggression and empathy among German adolescents
Krahé, B., & Möller, I. (2010) · Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2010.07.003 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Models, measurement and computer simulation: the changing face of experimentation
Morrison, M. (2009) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-008-9317-y · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Forced-choice decision-making in modified trolley dilemma situations: a virtual reality and eye tracking study
Skulmowski, A., Bunge, A., Kaspar, K., & Pipa, G. (2014) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00426 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Media violence and the self: The impact of personalized gaming characters in aggressive video games on aggressive behavior
Fischer, P. A., Kastenmüller, A., & Greitemeyer, T. (2009) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2009.06.010 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Putting the trolley in order: Experimental philosophy and the loop case
Liao, S. M., Wiegmann, A., Alexander, J., & Vong, G. (2011) · Philosophical Psychology · doi:10.1080/09515089.2011.627536 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
A tale of two methods
Winsberg, E. B. (2008) · Synthese · doi:10.1007/s11229-008-9437-0 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Offense to Others.
Gert, B., & Feinberg, J. (1987) · Philosophy and Phenomenological Research · doi:10.2307/2107714 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
To push or not to push? Affective influences on moral judgment depend on decision frame
Pastötter, B., Gleixner, S., Neuhauser, T., & Bäuml, K. T. (2012) · Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2012.11.003 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
The Problem of Imaginative Resistance *
Gendler, T. S., & Liao, S. (2015) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315708935-35 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-Sacrifice and the Trolley Problem
Nucci, E. D. (2012) · Philosophical Psychology · doi:10.1080/09515089.2012.674664 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
How Digital Computer Simulations Explain Real‐World Processes
Krohs, U. (2008) · International Studies in the Philosophy of Science · doi:10.1080/02698590802567324 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Ethics and Neurodiversity
Herrera, C. D., & Perry, A. (2013) · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Empathy and the Limits of Thought Experiments
Ramirez, E. J. (2017) · Metaphilosophy · doi:10.1111/meta.12249 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citation
Dissociable Effects of Valence and Arousal on Different Subtypes of Old/New Effect: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials
Xu, H.-F., Zhang, Q., Li, B.-B., & Guo, C.-Y. (2015) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00650 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Grand theft auto V : jeu vidéo
North, R. J. (2013) · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

3 of the 54 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Sorted by citations

Virtual Reality and Empathy Enhancement: Ethical Aspects
Rueda, J., & Lara, F. (2020) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2020.506984 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Ethical challenges of using virtual environments in the assessment and treatment of psychopathological disorders
Parsons, T. D. (2021) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm10030378 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Why a Virtual Assistant for Moral Enhancement When We Could have a Socrates?
Lara, F. (2021) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-021-00318-5 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“That’s important, but...”: How Computer Science Researchers Anticipate Unintended Consequences of Their Research Innovations
Do, K., Pang, R. Y., Jiang, J., & Reinecke, K. (2023) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581347 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Virtual Reality of Nature Can Be as Effective as Actual Nature in Promoting Ecological Behavior
Deringer, S. A., & Hanley, A. W. (2021) · Ecopsychology · doi:10.1089/eco.2020.0044 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Industry 4.0 - Current Status and Future Trends
Ortiz, J. H. (2020) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.86000 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
From virtual to real healing: a critical overview of the therapeutic use of virtual reality to cope with mourning
Pizzoli, S. F. M., Monzani, D., Vergani, L., Sanchini, V., & Mazzocco, K. (2021) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02158-9 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Psychiatric interventions in virtual reality: why we need an ethical framework
MARLOTH, M., CHANDLER, J., & VOGELEY, K. (2020) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180120000328 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
How to (dis)solve the Gamer’s Dilemma
Ramirez, E. J. (2020) · Ethical Theory and Moral Practice · doi:10.1007/s10677-019-10049-z · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citation
Morals, ethics, and the technology capabilities and limitations of automated and self-driving vehicles
Siegel, J. E., & Παππάς, Γ. (2021) · AI & Society · doi:10.1007/s00146-021-01277-y · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Human and Cobot Cooperation Ethics: The Process Management Concept of the Production Workplace
Chromjaková, F., Trentesaux, D., & Kwarteng, M. A. (2021) · Journal of Competitiveness · doi:10.7441/joc.2021.03.02 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Evaluating value mediation in patients with chronic low-back pain using virtual reality: contributions for empirical research in Value Sensitive Design
Smits, M., van Goor, H., Kallewaard, J. W., Verbeek, P., & Ludden, G. (2022) · Health and Technology · doi:10.1007/s12553-022-00671-w · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Ethical concerns in contemporary virtual reality and frameworks for pursuing responsible use
Raja, U. S., & Albaghli, R. (2025) · Frontiers in Virtual Reality · doi:10.3389/frvir.2025.1451273 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Computer-aided process planning in immersive environments: A critical review
Zhou, J., & Camba, J. D. (2021) · Computers in Industry · doi:10.1016/j.compind.2021.103547 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Ethical Challenges of Virtual Reality Technology Interventions for the Vulnerabilities of Patients With Chronic Pain: Exploration of Technician Responsibility
Zhou, S., Gromala, D., & Wang, L. (2023) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/49237 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Immersive Advertising—A Review and Research Agenda
Sands, S., Ferraro, C., Demsar, V., Cohen, E., & Gvirtz, A. (2024) · Journal of Advertising Research · doi:10.2501/jar-2024-018 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
360 Video Trend on YouTube Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Martínez, V. M. C., García, A. L. G., & Moraleda, I. J. M. (2021) · Journal of Creative Communications · doi:10.1177/09732586211038923 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Empathy training through virtual reality: moral enhancement with the freedom to fall?
Zahiu, A., Mihailov, E., Earp, B. D., Francis, K., & Savulescu, J. (2023) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-023-09723-9 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Virtual reality on perioperative anxiety in pediatric patients: A narrative review
Domene, S. S., Fulginiti, D., Silva, G. D. B., Frei, P., Santiago, G. A. P., Gasbarra, M., Peters, I., O’Connell, A. A., & Martinez, E. C. (2025) · Digital Health · doi:10.1177/20552076251331304 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Pertinence, efficacité et principes pédagogiques de la réalité virtuelle et augmentée en contexte scolaire : une revue de littérature
Lewis, F., Plante, P., & Daniel Lemire, A. (2021) · Médiations et médiatisations · doi:10.52358/mm.vi5.161 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Moral Equivalence in the Metaverse
Grinbaum, A., & Adomaitis, L. (2022) · NanoEthics · doi:10.1007/s11569-022-00426-x · Cited by 11 · see citing works
May Kantians commit virtual killings that affect no other persons?
Flattery, T. (2021) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-021-09612-z · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Crossing the Fictional Line: Moral Graveness, the Gamer’s Dilemma, and the Paradox of Fictionally Going Too Far
Montefiore, T., & Formosa, P. (2023) · Philosophy & Technology · doi:10.1007/s13347-023-00660-5 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
An Ethical Code for Commercial VR/AR Applications
Ramirez, E. J., Tan, J., Elliott, M., Gandhi, M., & Petronio, L. (2021) · Lecture notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-76426-5_2 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citation
Technogenic ideal in digital culture: building a research model
Александровна, Х. А. (2022) · Vestnik of Minin University · doi:10.26795/2307-1281-2022-10-14 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Ethical Issues with Simulating the Bridge Problem in VR
Ramirez, E. J., & Labarge, S. (2020) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-020-00267-5 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Ethics of Mixed Reality Games
Millard, D. E., Packer, H. S., Jordan, J., Hewitt, S., Malinov, Y.-D., & Rogers, N. (2024) · Games Research and Practice · doi:10.1145/3675806 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Confusing virtual reality with reality – An experimental study
Wiesing, M., Comadran, G., & Slater, M. (2025) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112655 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Moral dilemmas in virtual reality: a narrative review of findings and methodological challenges
Pucci, M., & Gagliardi, L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1701188 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
A place where “You can be who you've always wanted to be…” Examining the ethics of intelligent virtual environments
Shanley, D., & Meacham, D. (2024) · Journal of Responsible Technology · doi:10.1016/j.jrt.2024.100085 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Usage des technologies immersives (réalité virtuelle, augmentée et vidéo 360) dans l’enseignement supérieur
Lewis, F., Mendoza, G. A. A., Brassard, C., & Plante, P. (2023) · Médiations et médiatisations · doi:10.52358/mm.vi15.330 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The rationale for relevance development of substrate-attribute model of information culture in the framework of the philosophy of culture
Afanasiev, S. (2020) · Vestnik of Minin University · doi:10.26795/2307-1281-2020-8-3-10 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Ethics of Virtual Reality
López, B. R. (2023) · The International library of ethics, law and technology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-48135-2_6 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
A Summary of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality Technologies in Film and Television Creative Industries
Ge, R., & Hsiao, T. (2020) · IEEE Eurasia Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Healthcare and Sustainability (ECBIOS) · doi:10.1109/ecbios50299.2020.9203607 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Murder on the VR Express: Studying the Impact of Thought Experiments at a Distance in Virtual Reality
Kissel, A., Rechowicz, K. J., & Shull, J. B. (2023) · Societies · doi:10.3390/soc13030069 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Adolescent risk-taking and decision making: a qualitative investigation of a virtual reality experience of gangs and violence
Bilello, D., Swancott, L. J., Kloess, J. A., & Heyes, S. B. (2023) · Frontiers in Virtual Reality · doi:10.3389/frvir.2023.1142241 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Nature of Narration in Cinematic Virtual Reality
Weaving, S. (2024) · Palgrave studies in screenwriting · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54100-1_4 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
VIRTUALIZATION OF IDENTITY IN THE CONTEXT OF SELF-REALIZATION OF A PERSONALITY
Lyubiviy, Y., & Samchuk, R. V. (2020) · Anthropological Measurements of Philosophical Research · doi:10.15802/ampr.v0i18.221397 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Nobody’s Listening: Evaluating the Impact of Immersive VR for Engaging with Difficult Heritage and Human Rights
Mohammed-Amin, R. K., Economou, M., Katifori, A., Rasool, K. K., Raouf, T. L., Ibrahim, N. H., Radha, R. A., & Ali, K. O. (2025) · Heritage · doi:10.3390/heritage8110474 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The role of contextual information in a virtual trolly problem: A psychophysiological investigation
Richesin, M. T., Baldwin, D. R., & Wicks, L. A. M. (2022) · Social Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/17470919.2022.2076733 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Augmented and Virtual Reality in HRM Development
Wadjdi, F., & Yuliza, Y. (2023) · Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA · doi:10.29303/jppipa.v9i11.5333 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Immersive Environments in Higher Education: The Digital Well-Being Perspective
Cuomo, S., Roffi, A., Luzzi, D., & Ranieri, M. (2022) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-20777-8_3 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Virtual Reality Risks for Children in the Metaverse: An Examination through Criminological Perspectives
Martellozzo, E., Bradbury, P., Farr, R., & Davidson, J. (2026) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009620161 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Why a Life in Virtual Reality has the Potential to be Just as Meaningful as a Life Outside of it or, in Some Cases, More so
Young, G., & Whitty, M. T. (2026) · Philosophy & Technology · doi:10.1007/s13347-026-01128-y · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Stabilization of Digitized Processes
Chromjaková, F. (2020) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.90383 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Virtual Reality Ethics: Understanding the Behavioral and Wellbeing Consequences of Virtual Experiences
Awan, Badshah, A., & Daud, A. (2025) · International Conference on Emerging Technologies in Electronics, Computing and Communication (ICETECC) · doi:10.1109/icetecc65365.2025.11070283 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Knowing Me, Knowing You: An Epistemological Account of Prosocial Behaviour Promoting Virtual Reality
Horn, E. M. (2026) · Philosophy & Technology · doi:10.1007/s13347-026-01066-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The Wonder and the Terror of Getting Lost in “The Room”
Onishi, B. H. (2024) · Studia Philosophica Wratislaviensia · doi:10.19195/1895-8001.18.4.4 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Applicability of Virtual Excursions in Technical Subjects Teaching
Kuna, P., Hašková, A., & Borza, Ľ. (2024) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app14199120 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Virtual Reality in Vocational Education: Integrating Technology to Strengthen Student Character
Jaya, H., Anwar, B., Febriana, R., Haryoko, S., & Suhaeb, S. (2025) · IntechOpen eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.1010718 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Digital Soul: Loss Or Acquirment For Human Spirituality
Gryaznova, E. V. (2021) · The European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences · doi:10.15405/epsbs.2021.05.02.81 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
VR and AR Technology on Cultural Communication
Guo, M., Chen, H., Hsiao, T., Wu, Z.-Y., Tseng, H.-C., Chang, Y.-T., & Chen, T. (2020) · Lecture notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-63941-9_39
LIS Research Hotspots and Development Trends in Recent Years—Analysis Based on Altmetrics Indicators
Xia, X., & Li, X. (2021) · OALib · doi:10.4236/oalib.1107311
Binding paradox in artificial social realities
Vogeley, K. T. (2023) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x22001467
The Application of VR in Films and Games
Fang, S. (2024) · Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology · doi:10.54097/ydf30368
Unfallalgorithmen
Schäffner, V. (2024) · Verlag Karl Alber eBooks · doi:10.5771/9783495992043
You can’t judge me! Virtual observers do not influence moral judgments in virtual environments
Sterna, R., Pilarczyk, J., Szczugiel, J., Kulej, T., & Kuniecki, M. (2024) · Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace · doi:10.5817/cp2024-5-5
Fear on the plank? Virtual but more real! *Preprint
Chen, Z., Huang, W., McIntosh, P., Shepherd, I. A., & Zhao, X. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5269016
Exploring Moral Dilemmas in Virtual Reality: A Literature Review
Pucci, M., & Gagliardi, L. (2025) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-97763-3_13
Gamer’s de se imaginative resistance: a descriptive–philosophical resolution to the gamer’s dilemma
Yee, D. (2025) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-025-09879-6
Ethical Considerations for Researchers’ Well-Being in the Development Process of Virtual Reality Scenarios for Child Emotional Maltreatment
Keiski, P., Kangas, J. A., Partanen, M., Nukarinen, T., Raisamo, R., & Paavilainen, E. (2026) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-026-00581-4
Between consenting avatars
Uhing, C., & Heinrichs, B. (2026) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-026-09901-5
After chronos: a new temporal epistemology for ethics in virtual reality
Li, X., & Fu, X. (2026) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-026-09902-4
VR Technology and the Moral Education of Children
Spiegel, J. S. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-15112-4_37
Human-AI Interaction in Metaverse and Virtual Reality
Tong, X., Yi, X., & Cao, J. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-5585-7_9
Mapping risks and harms of eXtended reality (XR) technologies – A scoping review and novel typology
Voinov, C., Hagen, L. A., Baraas, R. C., Bernabe, R. D. L. C., & Cox, S. (2026) · Open Research Europe · doi:10.12688/openreseurope.23621.1

Authors: Ramirez, E. J., & LaBarge, S.
Affiliations: Santa Clara University (US)
ORCID: Ramirez, Erick Jose
Venue: Ethics and Information Technology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2018-07-26
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Pages: 249-263
ISSN: 1388-1957 (ISSN-L)
1572-8439
DOI: 10.1007/s10676-018-9473-5
OpenAlex: W2883575478
Cited by: 66
References: 54
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10
FWCI: 5.74
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Ethics and Information Technology (publishedVersion)
Scholar Commons (Santa Clara University) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
Oculus Education Grant
Topics: Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
Social Sciences › Communication › Cultural Studies and Postmodernism
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophical Ethics and Theory
Keywords: ethics of virtual reality, virtual reality simulation, moral hazard, equivalence principle, ethics of simulation, virtual reality games, research ethics committees, risk analysis, media comparison

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Real moral problems in the use of virtual reality

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks