Inspired by awe: Awe promotes inspiration via self-transcendence

Awe promotes inspiration, and this effect is explained by self-transcendence—the feeling of being part of something larger than oneself. Across five studies with 941 participants, awe increased inspiration as measured by actual behavior, ratings by others, and self-reported scales. The effect held when awe was compared with general positive emotions (amusement and happiness) and with nature, and when the awe experience was threatening. Self-transcendence consistently mediated the link between awe and inspiration.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Whether and how awe impacts inspiration lacks sufficient empirical research. We conducted five studies (N = 941) to examine the awe – inspiration link and the mediating effect of self-transcendence. We found that awe promoted inspiration, which was indexed by an actual behavior indicator, others’ ratings (Study 1), and multiple self-reported scales (Studies 2–4). Self-transcendence mediated this effect (Studies 3–4). The effect of awe on inspiration and the mediating effect of self-transcendence were established when comparing awe with a general positive emotion (i.e., amusement in Study 2a and happiness in Study 2b) and nature (Study 4), having emotions controlled for (Studies 2–4), and inducing awe with a threatening experience (Study 4). Taken together, awe exerted a unique effect on inspiration, and self-transcendence mediated this effect.