Reconstructing Empathy: How VR Users Perceive Simulated Challenges through Design Dimensions

In an era marked by profound social and cultural shifts, Virtual Reality (VR) has gained recognition as a powerful medium for fostering empathy across individuals and communities. Yet despite its promise, recent research has yielded inconsistent insights into how empathic VR experiences should be designed - particularly regarding which design dimensions most effectively shape user engagement. To address this gap, this study examines participant reflections drawn from two VR scenarios built on a shared paradigm, using mind mapping and interviews to explore how different design elements influence empathic response. Findings reveal that perceived impact is closely tied to the dimensions used to convey challenges, especially those that highlight the consequences of failure. These insights not only clarify existing uncertainties around design priorities but also offer new directions for crafting more effective and resonant empathic VR experiences.