Terapists avatar´s choice

We employed a between-subjects experimental survey design to examine identity-based selection processes in AI-mediated therapeutic contexts. The primary objective was to test whether the race, gender, and visual realism of AI-generated therapist avatars influenced participants’ selection decisions, and whether identity effects were moderated by presentation format. To enhance ecological validity, participation was restricted to individuals currently engaged in psychological therapy or who had received therapy within the previous six months. This criterion ensured that participants’ evaluations were grounded in recent, experience-based interactions with mental health services, rather than hypothetical judgments.
The questionnaire was framed broadly around artificial intelligence and digital interaction, without explicit reference to race or gender, to minimize the salience of these attributes and reduce potential response bias.