Blurring of self-other boundaries is associated with awe and social bonding in an art ritual performance
Valerie van Mulukom, Robert Clark, Lexi Eikelboom, David Newheiser, Jyotsna Joseph, Miguel Farias
PsyArXiv June 12, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/6atkp_v3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 119 |
| Population | Previously unacquainted adults paired into dyads of strangers |
| Interventions | Synchronous movement touch |
| Key findings | Social bonding increased significantly across both conditions, but bodily self-other boundary blurring was stronger during synchronous than in-canon movement. The authors report that increased social bonding was most strongly predicted by self-other boundary blurring via greater perceived self-other overlap, with awe adding only a modest contribution. They propose that embodied boundary blurring may be a key proximal mechanism linking self-transcendent experiences to social connection. |
Abstract
Self‑transcendence in rituals and awe experiences tends to promote social bonding, particularly if these events involve synchronous movement. Here we suggest that the blurring of self-other boundaries, as a cognitive-perceptual mechanism underlying self-transcendence, may increase perceived self-other overlap, which in turn may lead to greater social connection, together with awe. Building on the body ownership illusion literature in which self-boundaries are routinely manipulated, a choreographed art‑ritual performance study was developed to examine whether synchronous movement and touch could change bodily self-other boundaries, and whether this would affect social bonding between dyads of strangers. One hundred and nineteen previously unacquainted participants took part in a performance with two dancers, who moved either in synchrony (main condition) or in canon (control condition) behind and next to the dyads of participants. Participants showed significant increases in social bonding across conditions, but the blurring of bodily self-other boundaries was stronger in the synchronous than in the in-canon condition. Increases in social bonding were most strongly predicted by self-other boundary blurring via increased perceived self-other overlap, whereas awe made only a modest additional contribution. These findings suggest that embodied blurring of self-other boundaries may be a key proximal mechanism linking self‑transcendent experiences to social connection.