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The Social Effects of an Awesome Solar Eclipse
Sean P Goldy1, Nickolas M Jones1, Paul K Piff1
1Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine.
Psychological Science
|August 9, 2022
Summary
The 2017 solar eclipse inspired awe, leading people within its path to use more prosocial and collective language. This celestial event fostered social connection and community orientation among participants.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Astronomy
- Computational Social Science
Background:
- Astronomical events historically foster collective wonder and social cohesion.
- Awe is theorized to promote social bonding and group formation.
- The 2017 solar eclipse provided a unique opportunity to study these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the social impact of the 2017 solar eclipse on individual language use.
- To examine whether experiencing awe during the eclipse influences prosocial and collective behaviors.
- To determine if astronomical events systematically shape social dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Twitter data from 2,891,611 users before and after the 2017 solar eclipse.
- Comparison of language use between individuals inside and outside the eclipse path.
- Quantification of awe-related language and its correlation with prosocial, affiliative, humble, and collective terms.
Main Results:
- Individuals within the eclipse path showed increased awe and used more prosocial, affiliative, humble, and collective language compared to those outside.
- Elevated awe levels post-eclipse correlated with increased prosocial and collective language use.
- Language analysis revealed a shift from self-focused to group-oriented expression.
Conclusions:
- Awe-inspiring astronomical events, like solar eclipses, can significantly impact social behavior.
- These events may serve a collective function by enhancing prosocial tendencies and group orientation.
- Celestial phenomena can systematically shape individual and group social dynamics through shared experiences of awe.
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