Creating Digital Avatars with Realistic Psychological Personalities for Social Skills Training in Individuals with Autism or Social Anxiety.

This study explores the design, development, and implementation of digital avatars with psychologically realistic personalities as a novel tool for social skills training in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Grounded in the Five-Factor Model of personality and informed by principles of Theory of Mind and Social Learning Theory, six distinct avatars were created to simulate varied social roles—from supportive to challenging interactions. Using a combination of ۳D modelling (Blender), animation (Unity), natural language processing (Dialogflow), and affective computing (Affectiva SDK), the avatars were integrated into an adaptive digital environment where participants could engage in realistic, yet controlled, social scenarios. Thirty participants took part in a four-week training program, during which their emotional recognition, social responsiveness, and interaction confidence were evaluated using validated psychological tools (SRS-۲, LSAS, ERT). The results showed significant improvement in social responsiveness for individuals with ASD and a marked reduction in social anxiety for those with SAD. Participants reported high levels of comfort, safety, and motivation during avatar-based interactions, especially when engaging with empathetic and adaptive personalities. The study concludes that emotionally intelligent avatars offer a scalable, accessible, and customizable approach to complement traditional therapy. By simulating nuanced social behaviour in a non-threatening environment, these avatars present a promising avenue for digital mental health intervention and social development in neurodiverse populations..

کلیدواژه ها:

Digital Avatars ، Social Skills Training ، Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ، Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)