From awe to anxiety: investigating art-induced self-transcendence using virtual reality.
Monica V Weedman, Kutter Callaway, Daniel M Shafer, Tyler S Greenway, Jo-Ann Tsang, Wade C Rowatt
Frontiers in Psychology April 16, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1753676 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Between- and within-subjects experimental studies Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Virtual reality Awe Self-transcendent emotion |
| Key findings | Contrary to predictions, self-transcendent positive emotions decreased after viewing virtual art across all three studies, even when controlling for cybersickness. The same intervention consistently reduced state anxiety. The authors discuss alternative explanations and implications for using VR to elicit self-transcendent emotional experiences to art. |
Abstract
Introduction: Art has been shown to evoke a range of emotions, yet the mechanisms underlying these responses remain underexplored. Across three studies using between- and within-subjects designs, we examined how viewing original photographic art in virtual reality (VR) influences self-transcendent emotions and related affective states.
Method: In Study 1, participants viewed photographs in one of three VR contexts (museum, warehouse, church sanctuary). In Study 2, participants viewed the same photographs in a VR museum context where the photo scale varied (small vs. large scale). In Study 3, online participants viewed video recordings of the VR museum with or without computer-generated avatars.
Results: Contrary to predictions, across all three studies, self-transcendent positive emotions decreased following the virtual art intervention, even after controlling for cybersickness. However, the virtual art intervention also consistently reduced state anxiety.
Conclusion: Additional alternative explanations and implications are discussed for using VR to elicit self-transcendent emotional experiences to art.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |