The use of relaxation techniques in a personalized virtual environment

This bibliographic research addresses the innovative approach to relaxation that introduces the use of personalized virtual reality in the relaxing process. It is conceptualized as a critical integration of literature that considers the subject. Research is divided into three chapters. First of all, it defines virtual reality and its properties, with particular attention being given to the “sense of presence” as it is one of the key characteristics of virtual reality that make it a special form of human experience. Furthermore, this chapter takes perspective on virtual reality showing to be a successful technology in different areas of research, with the accent on its usefulness in clinical psychology. In the second chapter, research defines the concept of relaxation and continues with discussing relaxation techniques with particular attention being given to progressive muscle relaxation and body scan’s use in medical, and more specifically, psychological settings. Final chapter introduces the concept of personalization. In the end, it finally integrates literature that highlights the importance of the personalized virtual reality in relaxation practice, but also criticizes current studies defining possible directions for the future advances of the concept.