Awe Sparks Prosociality in Children

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Awe is a common childhood emotion, yet its impact on children remains understudied.
• Awe can shift focus from the self to the social world, potentially influencing behavior.
• Understanding awe's role in childhood is crucial for fostering positive social development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of art-elicited awe on children's prosocial behavior towards an out-group.
• To examine the physiological correlates of awe-induced prosociality in children.
• To explore methods for promoting prosociality in children through awe-inspiring experiences.

Main Methods:

• Two preregistered studies involving 512 children aged 8-13.
• Children viewed movie clips designed to elicit awe, joy, or a neutral response.
• Prosocial behavior was measured by effortful task engagement and donation of earnings to refugees.

Main Results:

• Children exposed to awe-eliciting stimuli showed increased engagement in effortful tasks benefiting refugees.
• Awe-inspired children were more likely to donate their earnings to refugees in both studies.
• Increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia, indicating parasympathetic nervous system activation, was observed in children experiencing awe.

Conclusions:

• Art-elicited awe significantly enhances children's prosocial behavior, particularly towards out-groups like refugees.
• Awe promotes social engagement and prosociality through physiological pathways, such as parasympathetic nervous system activation.
• Designing environments that inspire awe in children can be an effective strategy for fostering empathy and prosocial behavior at a critical developmental stage.