  Human bodies influence the owners' affect through posture, facial
expressions, and movement. It remains unclear whether similar links between
virtual bodies and affect exist. Such links could present design opportunities
for virtual environments and advance our understanding of fundamental concepts
of embodied VR.
  An initial outside-the-lab between-subjects study using commodity equipment
presented 207 participants with seven avatar manipulations, related to posture,
facial expression, and speed. We conducted a lab-based between-subjects study
using high-end VR equipment with 41 subjects to clarify affect's impact on body
ownership.
  The results show that some avatar manipulations can subtly influence affect.
Study I found that facial manipulations emerged as most effective in this
regard, particularly for positive affect. Also, body ownership showed a
moderating influence on affect: in Study I body ownership varied with valence
but not with arousal, and Study II showed body ownership to vary with positive
but not with negative affect.
