Baxter VR: A Scale-Based Prototype for Simulating Human-Dog Interactions
in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Abstract
Cynophobia, the fear of dogs, is among the most prevalent and
debilitating animal phobias: 36% of animal phobia patients report
fearing either dogs or cats, and dogs are ubiquitous in many cultures.
Exposure therapy is considered first-line treatment for cynophobia, but
the involvement of real dogs presents ethical and feasibility concerns.
Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has demonstrated potential as an
alternative to in-person exposure therapy in the treatment of animal
phobias, but literature evaluating its use for cynophobia is scarce, and
a recent scoping review suggests a need for further exploration in this
area. We thus present Baxter VR, a VRET-inspired prototype that
enables the user to change their size relative to a virtual dog and
surrounding environment, which then affects both the degree of
interactivity in the environment and the dog’s behaviour itself. For
example, the dog becomes fearful and acts aggressively if the user’s
size increases to ”giant” scale; which is intended to dispel a common
cynophobic belief that dog aggression occurs spontaneously. We argue
that such an approach could guide further exploration of VRET
interventions for cynophobia, culminating in a safer and more affordable
treatment option for individuals suffering from this condition.