Proteus Effect

The Proteus Effect is a phenomenon, first described by Yee and Bailenson (2007), in which the appearance of a person's avatar influences how they think, behave and interact in virtual or augmented environments. For example, users assigned taller or more attractive avatars tend to negotiate more assertively or stand closer to others. The effect matters for accessibility because it implies that avatar design is not cosmetic: representation choices shape autonomy, self-expression and social participation, particularly for disabled and neurodivergent users who have often been represented through defaults that do not reflect their identity.