버추얼 휴먼의 언캐니 밸리 반응에 대한 지각: 성별과 감성 민감성의 효과 = Perception of the Uncanny Valley Response to Virtual Humans: The Effects of Gender and Empathic Sensitivity

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examined how gender and empathic sensitivity influence users’ uncanny valley responses toward virtual humans. A total of 50 participants evaluated two types of virtual human stimuli differing in visual realism. The results showed that high-realism avatars elicited stronger uncanny responses, particularly among female participants. Empathic sensitivity was a significant positive predictor of uncanny response intensity, whereas anthropomorphism tendency appeared to mitigate such reactions. A significant interaction effect between gender and realism level was also observed, suggesting that user characteristics can moderate perceptual responses to virtual humans. These findings extend the theoretical framework of the uncanny valley by highlighting the critical role of individual psychological traits—such as gender and emotional sensitivity—in shaping uncanny experiences. The study offers both theoretical and practical implications for designing emotionally adaptive virtual humans tailored to diverse user groups.