Virtual Reality puts domestic abusers in their victims' shoes
A virtual reality program in Spanish prisons is forcing domestic violence offenders to experience their crimes from the victim's perspective — and the results are promising.
The VR therapy program, dubbed "VRespectMe," is currently running in six prisons across Catalonia. Developed by psychologist Nicholas Barnes in collaboration with the Catalan government, Spanish justice system, and University of Barcelona, the program aims to build empathy in men with violent histories by letting them experience situations from the other side.
When the stakes feel real
British journalist Rachel Sylvester attempted to test the system herself, but had to remove the headset early — the experience of being confronted with threatening behavior and derogatory comments from a male avatar became too intense to continue.
She's not alone in finding it overwhelming. Over a thousand imprisoned men have gone through the program since its launch, with participants breaking down in tears or needing to stop mid-session due to the emotional intensity.
Building better behavior through virtual experience
The program includes various scenarios designed to cover different aspects of abusive conduct, from verbal intimidation to experiencing sexual harassment in public spaces.
One particularly effective module forces participants to first answer questions like "Why did you do that?" and "Do you think you'll act this way again after release?" Then, in a calculated twist, they hear those same justifications thrown back at them by a virtual aggressor.
Barnes explains that this confrontation with their own excuses often deeply unsettles participants and makes it harder for them to maintain self-deception. The discomfort, he notes, is an intentional part of the therapeutic process.
Virtual reality has already proven itself as a therapy tool for various conditions, including aggression issues, eating disorders, and depression. While early results from VRespectMe appear promising, more study is needed to determine how lasting the effects of such technology-based rehabilitation approaches will be.
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