Paper Number
ECIS2026-2253
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
As technology and digital platforms develop, individuals increasingly expand their everyday life into the digital environment. These advancements have expanded beyond the traditional online spaces and introduced immersive worlds such as the Metaverse, where users can experience new forms of expression and interaction. Despite this rapid expansion, understanding how identity is constructed within Metaverse environments remains limited, particularly regarding one of its distinctive design features: the avatar. As existing studies are dispersed across multiple disciplines, which limits the development of a coherent understanding, we conducted a systematic literature review to synthesize research and present a comprehensive background for immersive digital environments. The review highlights theoretical foundations of identity construction, examines the link between personality and avatar design, and explores the influence of digital behaviour, social and environmental dynamics. The synthesis identifies key gaps and emerging opportunities for future research on user identity and avatar design in the immersive world.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Sohee; Zamani, Efpraxia; and Spanaki, Konstantina, "Avatar Design and User Personality Traits: Systematic Literature Review On Identity Construction Through Avatar In The Metaverse" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 15.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/litrev/litrev/15
Avatar Design and User Personality Traits: Systematic Literature Review On Identity Construction Through Avatar In The Metaverse
As technology and digital platforms develop, individuals increasingly expand their everyday life into the digital environment. These advancements have expanded beyond the traditional online spaces and introduced immersive worlds such as the Metaverse, where users can experience new forms of expression and interaction. Despite this rapid expansion, understanding how identity is constructed within Metaverse environments remains limited, particularly regarding one of its distinctive design features: the avatar. As existing studies are dispersed across multiple disciplines, which limits the development of a coherent understanding, we conducted a systematic literature review to synthesize research and present a comprehensive background for immersive digital environments. The review highlights theoretical foundations of identity construction, examines the link between personality and avatar design, and explores the influence of digital behaviour, social and environmental dynamics. The synthesis identifies key gaps and emerging opportunities for future research on user identity and avatar design in the immersive world.
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