Психологічні наслідки перегляду аверсивного контенту у віртуальній реальності

The paper synthesizes the psychological consequences of viewing aversive content in virtual reality (VR) and proposes a model of its mechanism of influence. The aim is to determine the short- and long-term effects of high-fidelity VR exposure. It is shown that the combination of immersion and presence, via multisensory integration, produces psychological authenticity of experiences, activates attentional systems and emotion regulation, and elicits acute stress responses with cognitive overload and somatic symptoms. Over time, outcomes may include sensitization of anxiety patterns, hypersensitivity, or desensitization, whose expression is moderated by stress tolerance, emotional intelligence, and prior traumatic experience. The need for ethical standards and real-time monitoring systems is outlined to support psychologically responsible VR design.