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Spatial Presence Theory: State of the Art and Challenges Ahead

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Immersed in Media

Abstract

Throughout the last decades, research has generated a substantial body of theory about Spatial Presence experiences. This chapter reviews some of the most important existing theoretical explications. First, building on notions offered in literature, the core of the construct will be explicated: what exactly is meant by the term “Spatial Presence”? Second, theoretical views on the “feeling of being there” provided by different Presence researchers are introduced. Important aspects and determinants of Spatial Presence have been highlighted in the past, such as attentional processes and embodied cognition. However, coherent theoretical frameworks are rare and more empirical research seems necessary to advance the theoretical understanding of Spatial Presence. The chapter concludes with an overview about recent controversies and future trends in Spatial Presence research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Science, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Tilo Hartmann

  2. Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Werner Wirth & Saskia Böcking

  3. Department of Media and Communication Studies, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany

    Peter Vorderer

  4. Department of Journalism and Communication Research, University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    Christoph Klimmt

  5. Department of Human-Computer-Media, University of Würzburg, Oswald-Külpe-Weg 82, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Holger Schramm

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  1. Tilo Hartmann
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  4. Christoph Klimmt
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  6. Saskia Böcking
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Correspondence to Tilo Hartmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Temple University, School of Media & Communication, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Matthew Lombard

  2. Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Public Communications, New York, USA

    Frank Biocca

  3. Goldsmiths, University of London, Department of Psychology, London, United Kingdom

    Jonathan Freeman

  4. Eindhoven University of Technology, School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Wijnand IJsselsteijn

  5. Temple University, School of Media & Communication, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Rachel J. Schaevitz

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Hartmann, T., Wirth, W., Vorderer, P., Klimmt, C., Schramm, H., Böcking, S. (2015). Spatial Presence Theory: State of the Art and Challenges Ahead. In: Lombard, M., Biocca, F., Freeman, J., IJsselsteijn, W., Schaevitz, R. (eds) Immersed in Media. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10190-3_7

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