Psychological virtual reality in a computer interactive environment

Objectives: analysis of the correlation between concepts “cyberspace”, “computer virtual reality”, “computer interactive environment”, “interactive experience”; wording of the author’s definition of the term “psychological virtual reality”; identification of its functions and features. Background. Computer interactive environments are becoming the main platforms for the professional and personal self-realization of a modern person, the social activity of youth is shifting to the Internet space, models and forms of interpersonal interaction and communication are changing, new psychological constructs are formed that reflect virtual world and provide interaction with it. Psychological virtual reality acts as an intermediary between a person as a personality and a computer interactive environment as a form of cyberspace representation in modern human life, and the psychological constructs generated in it determine the formation of new socio-psychological behavior patterns. Methodology: systemic and subjective approaches, comparative analysis method. Conclusions. The creation of computer interactive environments has opened a new stage in the formation of a new interactive human experience as a system of information technology and socio-psychological competencies. There is a need for a systematic study of the conceptual-categorical apparatus that is used to describe computer interactive environments. Psychological virtual reality is a component of computer interactive environment, performing number of important functions of optimizing human interaction with computer environment. The analysis of the "man—computer environment" system gives reason to distinguish between nine basic psychotypes of social subjects which are participants of virtual reality. The typology developed in the article can be recommended for use as a methodological basis in the development of socio-psychological diagnostic tools, in the practice of socio-psychological counseling and social work.