Be kinder to yourself: Awe promotes self-compassion via self-transcendence.
Wenying Yuan, Junyao Chang, Feng Jiang, Tonglin Jiang
Emotion (Washington, D.C.) August 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1037/emo0001495 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental and correlational studies Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults |
| Key findings | Awe promotes self-compassion through self-transcendence. |
Abstract
Deficits in self-compassion heighten the vulnerability of mental disorders and jeopardize well-being, emphasizing the necessity of fostering self-compassion during unexpected suffering. In this research, we investigate awe as an antecedent for promptly promoting self-compassion. Across five studies (three preregistered), employing various self-compassion metrics (self-report scale and behaviors) and testing in both controlled and natural settings, we found that awe was positively associated with, or promoted, self-reported self-compassion (Studies 1, 2, 4, and 5) and self-compassionate behaviors in real life (Study 5). These effects were distinct from general positive emotions (Studies 1 and 4) or nature exposure (Study 4). We further found that self-transcendence mediated this effect (Studies 2, 4, and 5) beyond self-diminishment (Study 4) and had a causal effect on promoting self-compassion (Study 3). These findings imply that awe enhances self-compassion via self-transcendence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).