From awe to anxiety: investigating art-induced self-transcendence using virtual reality

Art has been shown to evoke a range of emotions, yet the mechanisms underlying these responses remain underexplored. Across three studies using between- and within-subjects designs, we examined how viewing original photographic art in virtual reality (VR) influences self-transcendent emotions and related affective states.

In Study 1, participants viewed photographs in one of three VR contexts (museum, warehouse, church sanctuary). In Study 2, participants viewed the same photographs in a VR museum context where the photo scale varied (small vs. large scale). In Study 3, online participants viewed video recordings of the VR museum with or without computer-generated avatars.

Contrary to predictions, across all three studies, self-transcendent positive emotions decreased following the virtual art intervention, even after controlling for cybersickness. However, the virtual art intervention also consistently reduced state anxiety.

Additional alternative explanations and implications are discussed for using VR to elicit self-transcendent emotional experiences to art.