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Awe helps us remember why it is important to forget the self
1University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|February 6, 2021
Summary
Awe, a self-transcendent emotion, powerfully impacts the self by diminishing the ego. This process can foster greater interconnection, wisdom, meaning, and purpose in individuals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
Background:
- Awe is recognized as a profound, self-transcendent emotion.
- The emotion of awe has significant effects on an individual's sense of self.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the mechanisms by which awe influences the self.
- To understand how awe contributes to psychological well-being.
Main Methods:
- The study likely involved qualitative or quantitative psychological assessments.
- Analysis focused on the subjective experience of awe and its cognitive-emotional correlates.
Main Results:
- Experiencing awe can lead to a reduction in self-focus or ego-centricity.
- This ego-diminishing effect is associated with increased feelings of connection.
Conclusions:
- Awe serves as a catalyst for personal growth by transcending the self.
- Cultivating awe may be a pathway to enhanced wisdom, meaning, and purpose in life.
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