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Awe Promotes Perspective-Taking via Self-Transcendence: Implications for Cooperation.
1Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Experiencing awe, a powerful emotion, enhances perspective-taking abilities. This emotional shift, mediated by self-transcendence, fosters cooperation and strengthens social cohesion.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Emotion Research
Background:
- Emotions significantly influence social cognition and behavior.
- Perspective-taking is crucial for social interaction and cooperation.
- The specific role of awe in perspective-taking remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate awe as a potential promoter of perspective-taking.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms and downstream consequences of awe-induced perspective-taking.
- To examine the relationship between awe, perspective-taking, and cooperative behavior.
Main Methods:
- A multi-method approach was employed across five studies.
- Experimental manipulations induced feelings of awe.
- Self-transcendence, perspective-taking, and cooperative behavior were measured.
Main Results:
- Awe was consistently associated with and promoted perspective-taking.
- Self-transcendence mediated the relationship between awe and perspective-taking.
- Awe and perspective-taking were linked to increased cooperative behavior.
- The effect of awe was independent of positive valence and the 'small self' concept.
Conclusions:
- Awe is a significant emotional driver of perspective-taking.
- Self-transcendence is a key mechanism linking awe to enhanced perspective-taking.
- Awe has positive downstream effects on social behavior, promoting cooperation and social cohesion.
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