Why Awe Might Be Our Most Undervalued Emotion
Your brain's "me channel” is constant internal chatter that keeps you trapped in the prison of your own perspective. But awe temporarily breaks you out of that prison.
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We live in an age of perpetual distraction, where our attention spans have been carved up and sold to the highest bidder. Our brains are constantly hijacked by notifications, outrage cycles, and the relentless churn of content designed to keep us scrolling rather than reflecting. In this landscape of manufactured urgency, there's one emotion that cuts through the noise with startling clarity: awe.
But here's what the wellness industrial complex won't tell you about awe—it's not just another mindfulness trend to be commodified and packaged into neat Instagram quotes. The emerging research reveals something far more radical: awe might be one of our most powerful tools for psychological resilience, social connection, and even physical healing. And unlike the expensive retreats and elaborate meditation apps being hawked to us, awe is radically accessible.
The Small Self Revolution
Let's start with what awe actually does to your brain, because the neuroscience here is genuinely fascinating. When you experience awe—whether it's staring at a starry sky, witnessing an act of extraordinary kindness, or even watching that mesmerizing slow-motion video of a droplet falling into milk—your default mode network quiets down.
The default mode network is essentially your brain's "me channel." It's that constant internal chatter about your problems, your plans, your anxieties about the future and regrets about the past. It's the neural network that keeps you trapped in the prison of your own perspective. But awe does something remarkable: it temporarily breaks you out of that prison.
This isn't just poetic language—it's measurable brain activity. When researchers put people in fMRI machines and showed them awe-inducing videos, they found that the self-referential brain networks became significantly quieter. Meanwhile, the networks responsible for focused attention lit up like a Christmas tree. Your brain literally shifts from "me, me, me" to "whoa, look at that."
This neurological shift explains why awe feels so different from other positive emotions. Joy, excitement, pride—these tend to expand your sense of self. Awe shrinks it. And paradoxically, that shrinking creates space for something larger: connection, wonder, meaning.
The Accommodation Crisis
Here's where things get interesting from a societal perspective. One of the key components of awe is what researchers call "need for accommodation"—the moment when your existing mental frameworks can't quite handle what you're experiencing. Your brain has to scramble to make sense of something that doesn't fit your current worldview.
Sound familiar? We're living through a massive accommodation crisis right now. The old systems, institutions, and ways of understanding the world are crumbling faster than we can build new ones. Climate change, technological disruption, social upheaval—we're constantly encountering realities that our existing mental models can't accommodate.
The difference is that most of these experiences don't come with the safety and wonder that characterize healthy awe. Instead, we're getting accommodation without the transcendence—just the disorientation and fear. We're being forced to update our mental models in ways that feel threatening rather than expansive.
But what if we could learn to approach uncertainty with the same openness we bring to natural wonders? What if we could cultivate awe as a skill for navigating complexity rather than just a pleasant feeling we stumble upon occasionally?
The Everyday Awe Imperative
This is where the research gets really practical. You don't need to climb Everest or drop acid in a desert to experience awe. The studies are clear: everyday moments can be just as powerful as epic adventures. The Korean BBQ dinner that becomes transcendent when you really pay attention to the flavors, the community, the moment. The way afternoon light hits a familiar building and suddenly makes it look like a cathedral.
But here's the catch—and this is where our current cultural moment becomes relevant—you have to be paying attention. Real attention, not the fragmented, anxious pseudo-attention that we've been trained to accept as normal.
The attention economy has a vested interest in keeping us distracted, scattered, focused on immediate rewards rather than deeper experiences. Awe requires the opposite: sustained focus, openness to being surprised, willingness to let go of control. It's inherently subversive to a system that profits from our perpetual dissatisfaction.
The Social Immune System
Perhaps most importantly, awe seems to function as a kind of social immune system. When people experience awe, they become more generous, more helpful, more connected to others. They're less likely to get caught up in petty conflicts and more likely to see the bigger picture.
This isn't just nice-to-have social bonding—it's essential infrastructure for a functioning society. At a time when social trust is eroding and political polarization is reaching dangerous levels, emotions that promote connection and humility aren't luxuries. They're necessities.
The research on narrative health adds another layer here. When people share stories of awe-inspiring experiences—whether it's overcoming hardship, witnessing beauty, or connecting with something larger than themselves—both the storyteller and the listener benefit. Stories of transcendence seem to be particularly powerful at reducing despair and building resilience.
The Medical Establishment's Blind Spot
What's striking is how little attention the medical establishment pays to awe, despite mounting evidence of its health benefits. We're seeing promising research on everything from reduced cortisol levels to improved cardiovascular health to faster recovery times. There are even early studies using VR-induced awe experiences to help surgery patients manage anxiety.
But try finding a doctor who will prescribe time in nature or recommend seeking out beautiful art as part of your treatment plan. The medical-industrial complex is much better at selling you expensive interventions than helping you access free ones that might be just as effective.
This isn't to say that medication and therapy aren't important—they absolutely are. But what if we also recognized awe as a legitimate tool for healing? What if we built healthcare systems that understood the connection between wonder and wellness?
Reclaiming Wonder as Resistance
In the end, cultivating awe might be one of the most radical acts available to us right now. In a world designed to keep us small, anxious, and self-focused, choosing to seek out experiences that expand our perspective and connect us to something larger is inherently revolutionary.
The beautiful thing about awe is that it can't be commodified in the same way as other wellness trends. You can't buy it, subscribe to it, or consume it. You can only experience it. And that experience requires exactly what our current moment is trying to strip away from us: presence, openness, and the courage to be transformed by what we encounter.
So maybe the question isn't whether you can afford to seek out more awe in your life. Maybe the question is whether you can afford not to.
References:
Eight Reasons Why Awe Makes Your Life Better
The neuroscience and health benefits of experiencing awe and wonder
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STUDY MATERIALS
1. Briefing Document
Executive Summary: Awe, a complex and profound emotion, has been a subject of scientific study for approximately 15 years. Emerging research indicates that experiencing awe offers a wide range of benefits, from enhanced happiness and health to increased generosity, humility, and prosocial behavior. Neurocognitive studies suggest that awe is associated with a reduction in self-referential processing, leading to a "small self" effect, and captivates attention, potentially offering a buffer against negative emotions and materialism. Awe can be experienced not only in extraordinary moments but also in daily life, and its induction can be leveraged for therapeutic and societal benefits, including fostering resilience and civic participation.
1. The Nature and Experience of Awe
Awe is described as a "complex and mysterious emotion" that can induce "goosebumps and dropped jaws." It is often elicited by perceptually vast stimuli such as towering redwoods, the Taj Mahal, mountains, oceans, or impressive man-made objects like skyscrapers. However, awe is not limited to "once-in-a-lifetime moments, such as exotic trips to far away, expensive locations." Researchers emphasize that "awe can be experienced in daily, everyday moments," such as marveling at the world around you, engaging with moving music or art, or learning something new.
A key characteristic of awe is its captivating, immersive, and attention-grabbing nature. Subjectively, awe can feel "indescribable," where "Your body metaphorically freezes; your mind is in slow motion yet so many things are racing through it filling your brain with emotions you can’t explain." While primarily positive, awe "can also include negative elements such as fear and lack of control."
2. Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Awe: The "Small Self" Effect
A significant finding across studies is that awe induces a "small self" effect, characterized by a "reduced focus on and awareness of one's self." This diminished self-perception is supported by both behavioral and neuroimaging evidence:
Behavioral Evidence:
Participants who recalled an awe experience "placed less value on money" and viewing awe-inducing images "reduced the effort people were willing to put into getting money." Researchers suggest this is because "People in awe start to appreciate their sense of selfhood as less separate and more interrelated to the larger existence,” elevating them "from their mundane concerns, which are bounded by daily experiences such as the desire for money.”
Visitors to Yosemite National Park (high awe) represented their "current self with smaller circles" and "drew self-portraits that were nearly 33 percent smaller" compared to tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf (low awe).
Participants in an fMRI study "subjectively perceived a smaller self when watching awe compared to control videos."
Neuroimaging Evidence (fMRI Study):
The experience of awe is associated with "reduced self-referential processing" and a "reduced activation of brain areas that are considered part of the default mode network (DMN)." The DMN is primarily involved in "self-referential processing and mind-wandering."
Specifically, when watching awe-inducing videos in an "absorption condition" (passively immersed), there was "less activity of these regions [DMN] compared to positive and neutral videos." This suggests that awe "may be accompanied by a reduction in mind-wandering and spontaneous self-reflective thought."
Conversely, during analytical tasks (e.g., counting perspective changes), key regions of the fronto-parietal network (FPN), associated with "externally directed attention" and "goal-directed cognition," were "most strongly activated in the analytical condition when participants were watching awe compared to positive and neutral videos." This highlights awe stimuli's "captivating, immersive, and attention-grabbing nature."
The prefrontal cortex, which controls executive function (planning, focus, decision-making), also "lights up" during awe experiences, helping individuals "process the significance of what we are witnessing and integrate it into our understanding of the world."
3. Broad Benefits of Experiencing Awe
The research highlights numerous benefits of experiencing awe, impacting psychological well-being, social behavior, and even resilience:
Psychological and Emotional Well-being:
Leads to increased "happiness and health."
Promotes "mood improvements, and emotion regulation."
Enhances "resilience and well-being," serving as a positive coping strategy for stressful life events.
Acts as a "buffer against negative emotion when you lose material possessions."
Supports "handling uncertainty and ambiguity" by revealing "knowledge gaps" and fostering a willingness to reshape understanding.
Prosocial Behavior and Humility:
Fosters "generosity, humility, and prosocial behaviors."
Awe "motivates individuals to recognize being part of a larger entity," potentially leading to increased "civic participation."
Naturally prone awe-experiencers "felt more humility and were rated as more humble by their friends."
Experimentally inducing awe led participants to "acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses in a more balanced way and to better recognize how outside forces contributed to their successes."
The "unselfing" process, where focus shifts away from self-interest towards others and the outside world, underlies awe's effect on prosocial behavior.
Cognitive and Personal Growth:
Raises "awareness of gaps in knowledge and seeking to fill them."
Promotes "creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity."
Aids in "finding meaning and purpose in life" and "open-mindedness."
Can "transform" individuals, as seen in the power of narratives.
4. The Role of Narratives in Awe and Resilience
Sharing and being exposed to "awe narratives" is identified as a powerful way to enhance resilience and overall well-being.
Impact on Individuals:
Sharing meaningful narratives "can support people’s psychological and overall well-being," increasing "self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-control, and openness with others," and promoting "better decision-making."
Personal narratives can "decrease depression and anxiety symptoms, intrusive thoughts, and rumination."
They can "create new meaning" in a person's life, especially when raising "existential questions."
Narratives "do more than restore our faith in ourselves. They have the power to transform.”
Impact on Listeners:
The benefits of storytelling are experienced "just as much by the listener as by the teller."
Listening to narratives can motivate individuals to "reflect on their personal lives."
Exposure to narratives can "increase their empathy, generosity, and social connectedness."
5. Practical Applications and Future Directions
The understanding of awe's benefits suggests practical applications for individuals and society:
Cultivating Awe:
Engage with nature, music, and art.
Learn new things and explore different cultures.
Practice gratitude.
"Stay present" and allow for the "amazement of life."
Parents can encourage "intellectual humility in kids" by modeling and practicing admitting what they don't know and owning mistakes.
Therapeutic and Societal Implications:
Healthcare organizations are "harnessing these powerful feelings to help brain surgery patients."
VR-induced awe has shown potential for "enhancing effect on the engagement of context-specific civic activities." This implies the potential to "promote a kinder and more compassionate society" by fostering individuals to recognize "being part of a larger entity."
Conclusion
The scientific study of awe reveals it as a potent emotion with far-reaching positive impacts on individual well-being, cognitive function, social behavior, and resilience. Its ability to reduce self-focus, captivate attention, and foster a sense of interconnectedness makes it a valuable target for further research and practical application in promoting human flourishing and a more compassionate society.
2. Quiz & Answer Key
Quiz
What is the "small self" effect, and how does awe contribute to it?
Describe the primary function of the Default Mode Network (DMN) and how its activity is affected by awe experiences.
How does the study involving Yosemite National Park and Fisherman's Wharf tourists provide evidence for awe's effect on self-perception and humility?
According to the provided sources, what are some of the unexpected benefits of experiencing awe, beyond happiness and health?
Explain how awe can reduce materialism, drawing on the concept of self-transcendence.
What is the primary difference in brain network activation between the "absorption" and "analytical" conditions during the fMRI study on awe?
How can personal narratives contribute to psychological well-being and resilience, according to the sources?
Besides grand, once-in-a-lifetime moments, how else can awe be experienced in daily life? Provide examples mentioned in the text.
What are the two critical components of awe identified by Keltner and Haidt (2003), and how does the study's data suggest a potential nuance to one of these components?
What role do the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex play during an experience of awe, according to the "Nuvance Health" source?
Answer Key
The "small self" effect refers to the phenomenon where awe makes individuals feel physically smaller, diminished, or insignificant in relation to the larger world. Awe contributes to this effect by shifting perception away from self-focus and towards a greater awareness of one's interconnectedness with the world.
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is primarily implicated in self-referential processing and mind-wandering. During awe experiences, particularly when deeply immersed in awe-eliciting stimuli, DMN activity is reduced, suggesting a decrease in self-focused thought.
Tourists at Yosemite National Park, who reported experiencing more awe, represented their current self with smaller circles and drew self-portraits that were nearly 33 percent smaller than tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf. This study directly links reported awe with a diminished self-perception and increased humility.
Beyond happiness and health, experiencing awe may lead to unexpected benefits such as increased generosity, greater humility, reduced materialism, enhanced civic participation, and improved resilience against negative emotions when losing material possessions.
Awe can decrease materialism by inspiring self-transcendence, a feeling where individuals perceive their sense of selfhood as less separate and more interrelated to a larger existence. This elevates people from mundane concerns, such as the desire for money, making material possessions seem less valuable.
In the fMRI study, the "absorption" condition (passively immersed) was associated with increased activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN), while the "analytical" condition (counting perspective changes) showed stronger activation in the Frontoparietal Network (FPN), which is involved in goal-directed attention. However, awe videos reduced DMN activity even in the absorption condition, indicating deep immersion.
Personal narratives can support psychological well-being by allowing individuals to interpret their past and envision their future, contributing to life purpose. Sharing these narratives can increase self-awareness, self-efficacy, and self-control, and has been associated with decreases in depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts.
Awe is not limited to exotic trips or once-in-a-lifetime moments. It can be experienced in daily, everyday moments, such as seeing a breathtaking sunset, witnessing an unbelievable athletic feat, marveling at the vastness of the ocean, engaging with moving music or art, or learning something new.
Keltner and Haidt (2003) identified two critical components of awe: a sense of vastness and a Need for Accommodation (NFA), which means reshaping one's understanding of the world. However, the study's data suggests NFA might not occur in every awe instance; instead, self-reflection might be used to understand the vast experience.
During an experience of awe, the prefrontal cortex becomes highly active, controlling executive functions like planning, focus, and decision-making, helping to process the significance of what is being witnessed. The anterior cingulate cortex also "lights up," playing a role in emotional regulation and self-awareness.
3. Essay Questions
Discuss the multifaceted impact of awe on an individual's sense of self. How do various studies, including those using fMRI and self-report measures, support the concept of "small self" and reduced self-referential processing during awe experiences?
Analyze the relationship between awe and prosocial behaviors. How does the concept of "self-transcendence" or "unselfing" explain awe's ability to motivate individuals towards generosity, civic participation, and reduced materialism?
Compare and contrast the findings of the fMRI study regarding brain network activity (DMN and FPN) in "absorption" versus "analytical" conditions, particularly as they relate to awe-eliciting stimuli. What do these findings suggest about the captivating nature of awe?
Explore the role of narratives in promoting resilience and well-being, specifically in the context of awe. How do personal awe narratives contribute to positive coping strategies, self-awareness, and social connectedness for both the teller and the listener?
Discuss the notion that awe is not limited to "once-in-a-lifetime moments" but can be experienced in everyday life. Provide examples from the sources and explain the benefits of cultivating such experiences for overall health and well-being.
4. Glossary of Key Terms
Absorption: A personality trait referring to a person's tendency to become fully engrossed in sensory and imaginative experiences; in the fMRI study, it also refers to a task condition where participants passively observe videos.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC): A part of the brain involved in executive function, emotion regulation, and self-awareness, noted to "light up" during awe experiences.
Arousal: A physiological and psychological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli. In the studies, it refers to the intensity of emotional activation experienced by participants.
Awe: A complex and mysterious emotion typically elicited by perceptually vast stimuli, characterized by feelings of wonder, insignificance, and a need to accommodate new information.
Civic Participation: Engagement in activities related to public or community life, which studies suggest can be enhanced by experiences of awe.
Default Mode Network (DMN): A network of interacting brain regions that is more active when an individual is not focused on the outside world and the brain is at wakeful rest, often associated with self-referential processing and mind-wandering.
Ego Dissolution (or Unselfing): A profound experience, sometimes induced by psychedelics or intense awe, characterized by the disappearance of the notion of a core self, leading to a diminished focus on individual self-interest.
Emotion Induction: The experimental process of eliciting specific emotional states in participants, often through stimuli like videos or images.
Executive Function: A set of cognitive processes, including planning, focus, memory, and decision-making, primarily controlled by the prefrontal cortex.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow, used to identify which brain areas are active during specific tasks or emotional states.
Generosity: The quality of being kind and giving, a prosocial behavior that research suggests can be increased by experiencing awe.
Humility: A modest or low view of one's own importance; a quality enhanced by awe experiences due to the "small self" effect.
Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A qualitative research methodology concerned with understanding how people make sense of their personal and social worlds, often through the analysis of narratives.
Materialism: A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. Awe experiences have been shown to decrease materialistic values.
Narrative Identity: An individual's evolving life story, involving their interpretation of the past and vision of the future, which contributes to their life's purpose and can be a tool for resilience.
Need for Accommodation (NFA): One of the critical components of awe, referring to the process by which individuals need to reshape their current understanding of the world after experiencing something vast or profound.
Openness to Experience: A personality trait characterized by a willingness to try new things, be imaginative, and appreciate art and beauty; a strong predictor of awe intensity.
Prefrontal Cortex: The very front part of the brain, responsible for complex cognitive behaviors, planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior; highly active during awe.
Prosocial Behaviors: Actions intended to benefit others, such as generosity, helping, and volunteering, often fostered by awe.
Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Awe experiences contribute to resilience by promoting positive coping strategies.
Salutogenesis: A medical approach focusing on factors that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease.
Self-Referential Processing: Cognitive activities related to thinking about oneself, one's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Awe has been shown to reduce this.
Self-Transcendence: The sense that one's personal identity extends beyond the individual self, often connecting to a larger existence or something greater than oneself, a key mechanism behind awe's benefits.
Small Self Effect: See "small self" above.
Uncertainty and Ambiguity: Feelings of doubt or vagueness that can be present during awe experiences, sometimes leading to an acknowledgment of knowledge gaps rather than immediate NFA.
Valence: The intrinsic attractiveness (positive valence) or aversiveness (negative valence) of an event, object, or situation. In the studies, it refers to the positive or negative emotional quality of the videos.
Vastness: A critical component of awe, referring to the perception of something immense in size, scope, or power, either physical (like mountains) or conceptual (like grand ideas).
Virtual Reality (VR) 360° Immersive Videos: A technology used in some studies to induce awe by surrounding participants with a simulated environment, enhancing the feeling of presence and vastness.
5. Timeline of Main Events
Pre-2000s:
1967: Iris Murdoch publishes "The Sovereignty of Good Over Other Concepts," introducing the concept of "unselfing" as a psychological mechanism to go beyond self-interest.
1989: Edmund Husserl's "Ideas pertaining to a pure phenomenology and to a phenomenological philosophy: Second book" is published, contributing to phenomenological understanding.
1996: Aaron Antonovsky lays the foundation of salutogenesis.
1997: Shulman, Fiez, Corbetta, Buckner, Miezin, Raichle, and Petersen publish on common blood flow changes in the cerebral cortex across visual tasks, providing early insights into brain activity during perception.
1999: Banks-Wallace's study highlights how nurses sharing personal growth stories enhance resilience and social connectedness, and improve patient care.
2000: Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi co-found positive psychology.
2001: Klein and Boals' study links expressive writing to increased working memory capacity and decreased depression/anxiety symptoms.
2000s:
2003: Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, and Podsakoff publish a critical review on common method biases in behavioral research.
2003: Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt publish "Approaching Awe, a Moral, Spiritual, and Aesthetic Emotion," identifying vastness and a Need for Accommodation (NFA) as critical components of awe experiences.
2004: McAdams, Anyidoho, Brown, Huang, Kaplan, and Machado explore links between dispositional and narrative features of personality.
2005: Fox, Snyder, Vincent, Corbetta, Van Essen, and Raichle publish on the intrinsic organization of the human brain into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks, specifically mentioning the Default Mode Network (DMN).
2005: Naghavi and Nyberg publish on common fronto-parietal activity in attention, memory, and consciousness.
2005: Bonanno discusses resilience requiring access to multiple practices based on situation.
2006: Frattaroli's research indicates that sharing meaningful narratives supports psychological and overall well-being.
2006: Fuller's "Wonder and the Religious Sensibility: A Study in Religion and Emotion" links awe to religious sensibility.
2006: Gortner, Rude, and Pennebaker link expressive writing to decreases in depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and rumination.
2007: Shiota, Keltner, and Mossman explore the nature of awe, including its elicitors, appraisals, and effects on self-concept.
2008: Buckner, Andrews-Hanna, and Schacter publish on the brain's default network.
2009: Rick Hanson publishes on "acceptance" and "agency" as positive coping strategies.
2009: Katherine J. Schneider publishes "Awakening to Awe: Personal Stories of Profound Transformation."
2009: Salimpoor, Benovoy, Longo, Cooperstock, and Zatorre's study links the rewarding aspects of music listening to emotional arousal.
2009: Weinstein, Przybylski, and Ryan's study suggests that immersion in nature can lead to increased intrinsic aspirations and generosity.
2010s:
2010: Schnall, Roper, and Fessler's study suggests that "elevation" (awe's social counterpart) can lead to altruistic behavior.
2010: East, Miller, and Leitch's study shows how listening to narratives can motivate reflection on personal lives.
2011: Lilgendahl and McAdams examine how individual differences in autobiographical reasoning relate to well-being in midlife.
2011: Reese, Haden, Baker-Ward, Bauer, Fivush, and Ornstein study the coherence of personal narratives across the lifespan.
2011: Brewer, Worhunsky, Gray, Tang, Weber, and Kober find that meditation experience is associated with differences in DMN activity.
2011: Mark Sampson begins following the Greater Good Science Center's work on awe, advocating for its use.
2012: Rudd, Vohs, and Aaker's study shows awe expands people's perception of time, alters decision-making, and enhances well-being.
2012: Rick Hanson publishes on "acceptance" and "agency."
2012: Craddock, James, Holtzheimer, Hu, and Mayberg publish a whole-brain fMRI atlas.
2012: Leo Widrich publishes on the science of storytelling and its effects on the brain.
2012: Bratman, Hamilton, and Daily review studies on the effects of natural environments on self-focus and prosocial behavior.
2013: Kamitsis and Francis's study suggests spirituality mediates the relationship between engagement with nature and psychological well-being.
2013: Dworkin publishes "Religion Without God."
2013: Reinerman-Jones, Sollins, Gallagher, and Janz publish on neurophenomenology as an integrated approach to exploring awe.
2013: Campos, Shiota, Keltner, Gonzaga, and Goetz examine shared and different aspects of positive emotions.
2013: McAdams and McLean introduce the concept of narrative identity as evolving life stories.
2013: Brewer, Garrison, and Whitfield-Gabrieli investigate the role of the posterior cingulate cortex in self-processing.
2013: Tam studies dispositional empathy with nature.
2014: Pietkiewicz and Smith publish a practical guide to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
2014: Ulrich, Keller, Hoenig, Waller, and Gron find that experimentally induced flow experiences are associated with decreased DMN activation.
2014: Zhang, Howell, and Iyer's study suggests engagement with natural beauty moderates the positive relation between connectedness with nature and psychological well-being.
2014: Zhang, Piff, Iyer, Koleva, and Keltner's study argues that beautiful nature leads to prosociality.
2015: Fox, Spreng, Ellamil, Andrews-Hanna, and Christoff publish a meta-analysis on mind-wandering studies.
2015: Frank, Boudreaux, and Bouie's work posits that benefits of storytelling are experienced by both listener and teller.
2015: Palhano-Fontes, Andrade, Tofoli, Santos, Crippa, Hallak, and de Araujo find that the psychedelic state induced by Ayahuasca modulates DMN activity.
2015: Piff, Dietze, Feinberg, Stancato, and Keltner publish "Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior."
2015: Alex Zubrinsky expresses critical views on clergy behavior and calls for reconciliation.
2015: Michiel van Elk and colleagues conduct the fMRI study on awe at the Spinoza Center for NeuroImaging, University of Amsterdam.
2016: Adler, Lodi-Smith, Philippe, and Houle review the validity of narrative identity in predicting well-being.
2016: Reinerman-Jones, Sollins, Gallagher, and Janz publish on the overview effect, awe, and self-transcendent experience in space flight.
2016: Prade and Saroglou explore awe's effects on generosity and helping.
2016: Rutledge's "Everything is Story: Telling Stories and Positive Psychology" is published.
2016: Tagliazucchi, Roseman, Kaelen, Orban, Muthukumaraswamy, Murphy, and Carhart-Harris find increased global functional connectivity correlates with LSD-induced ego dissolution.
2016: van Elk, Karinen, Specker, Stamkou, and Baas publish "Standing in Awe': The Effects of Awe on Body Perception and the Relation with Absorption."
2016: Miller and Barrio Minton examine experiences learning interpersonal neurobiology.
2017: Gordon, Stellar, Anderson, McNeil, Loew, and Keltner explore a threat-based variant of awe.
2017: Yaden, Haidt, Hood, Vago, and Newberg publish "The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience."
2017: Pilgrim, Norris, and Hackathorn study the influence of music on experienced awe.
2017: Hartog, Scherer-Rath, Kruizinga, Netjes, Henriques, Nieuwkerk, and Sprangers develop a theoretical model of narrative meaning making.
2018: Suzuki, Miyai, and Harasawa examine neuroscience implications of storytelling.
2018: Chirico and Yaden refer to "Need for Accommodation" (NFA) as identifying knowledge gaps.
2018: Rogers and Joiner's study connects suicide-specific rumination to lifetime suicide attempts.
2019: Marianna Graziosi and David Yaden explain that awe can be an ordinary response to something extraordinary or an extraordinary response to something ordinary.
2019: Annalee Martine publishes on the mysterious discipline of narratologists.
2019: Michiel van Elk and colleagues publish "The neural correlates of the awe experience: Reduced default mode network activity during feelings of awe," providing neurocognitive support for awe being associated with reduced self-referential processing.
2019: McPhetres's study finds that awe promotes awareness of knowledge gaps and science interest.
2019: Nelson-Coffey, Ruberton, Chancellor, Cornick, Blascovich, and Lyubomirsky study the proximal experience of awe.
2020s:
2020: S. Magnan publishes "Finding Awe in Uncertain Times."
2021: Jiang and Sedikides find that awe motivates authentic-self pursuit via self-transcendence, with implications for prosociality.
2021: The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) conducts a study on VR-induced awe and civic participation for a BSocSc(Psy) thesis.
2021: Nizza, Farr, and Smith provide markers of high quality for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
2021: Brockington, De Marco, Cárdenas, and Kringelbach link storytelling to increased oxytocin levels and positive emotions, and decreased cortisol and pain.
2022: T. Agnew publishes "Reflective practice 2: Improving nurses’ mental health and wellbeing."
2022: S. Galanti Grollo publishes "Rethinking Husserl’s lifeworld: The many faces of the world in Heidegger’s early Freiburg lecture courses."
2022: Franz, Thompson, Schinina, Bonanno, and Galatzer-Levy demonstrate a reduction of suicidal ideation in people exposed to stories of others working through suicidal thoughts.
2023: Michigan Medicine Headlines quotes Rana Awdish on the transformative power of narratives.
2024 (projected copyright): EdUHK Research Repository holds copyright for its content, including the study on VR-induced awe.
August 9, 2024: Paul Wright, MD, Senior Vice President and System Chair of the Neuroscience Institute, Nuvance Health, publishes an article on the neuroscience and health benefits of awe.
Cast of Characters
Researchers & Academics:
Aaron Antonovsky: (1996) Laid the foundation for salutogenesis, focusing on human flourishing.
Dacher Keltner: (2003, 2015, 2017) A key figure in awe research, co-authored a seminal paper defining awe's core components (vastness and NFA).
David B. Yaden: (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) A researcher who has explored awe, self-transcendent experiences, and distinguished between "Need for Accommodation" and knowledge gaps.
Disa Sauter: (2019) A researcher involved in the fMRI study on the neural correlates of awe, funded by the European Research Council.
Donald P. McAdams: (2004, 2011, 2013) Known for his work on narrative identity and how life stories contribute to purpose and well-being.
Edmund Husserl: (1989) A philosopher whose work on phenomenology informs the understanding of human experience.
Ellen Griesedieck: Artist and founder of the American Mural Project (AMP), who believes awe is a powerful force for unity and inspiration, manifested in her large-scale collaborative artwork.
Hein T. van Schie: (2019) A researcher involved in the fMRI study on the neural correlates of awe.
Iris Murdoch: (1967) A philosopher who introduced the concept of "unselfing."
J.A. Smith: (2014, 2021) Co-authored a practical guide for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and markers for its quality.
Jonathan Haidt: (2003, 2017) Co-authored a seminal paper on awe with Dacher Keltner.
K.C.R. Fox: (2015) A researcher who conducted a meta-analysis on mind-wandering studies.
K.D. Vohs: (2012) A researcher who contributed to studies on how awe affects time perception, decision-making, and well-being.
Katherine J. Schneider: (2009) Author of "Awakening to Awe," which explores personal stories of transformative awe.
M. Andrea Arciniegas Gomez: (2019) A researcher involved in the fMRI study on the neural correlates of awe.
M.D. Fox: (2005) A researcher who contributed to understanding brain networks and their intrinsic organization.
Marianna Graziosi: (2018, 2019) A researcher who explored the occurrence of awe in daily, everyday moments and categorized awe experiences.
Martin E. Raichle: (2005, 1997, 2015) A key figure in understanding the brain's default mode network (DMN).
Michiel van Elk: (2015, 2016, 2019) Lead author of the fMRI study on the neural correlates of awe, receiving a Veni grant for his research.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: (2000) Co-founder of positive psychology.
P.K. Piff: (2015) A key researcher involved in studies on awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior.
Paul Wright, MD: (2024) Senior Vice President and System Chair of the Neuroscience Institute at Nuvance Health, who advocates for the health benefits of awe.
Philippe, F.L.: (2016) Co-authored a review on the incremental validity of narrative identity in predicting well-being.
Rana Awdish: (2023) A medical doctor who survived a near-death experience and emphasized the transformative power of narratives.
Rick Hanson: (2009, 2012) Author who discusses "acceptance" and "agency" as positive coping strategies.
Rudd, M.: (2012) A researcher who contributed to studies on how awe affects time perception, decision-making, and well-being.
S.K. Nelson-Coffey: (2019) A researcher who studied the proximal experience of awe.
S. Lyubomirsky: (2019) A researcher who studied the proximal experience of awe.
Tam, K.P.: (2013) A researcher who studied dispositional empathy with nature.
T. Jiang: (2021) A researcher who studied how awe motivates authentic-self pursuit.
T.M. Luhrmann: (2016) Co-authored a review on absorption and spiritual experience.
Wietske van der Zwaag: (2019) A researcher involved in the fMRI study on the neural correlates of awe.
William James: A renowned scientist noted for his observations on awe as an overwhelming emotion.
Other Individuals/Groups Mentioned:
Abby Wambach: A trailblazer in women's soccer, who shared her journey of discovering truth, healing, and self-love after retirement.
Alex Zubrinsky: (2015) A commenter expressing strong opinions on clergy behavior and the need for reconciliation.
Amazon's Mechanical Turk: (2015) An online crowdsourcing marketplace used to recruit participants for a pretest of video stimuli in the fMRI study.
Clergy: A group criticized by Alex Zubrinsky for perceived narrow-mindedness, impulsivity, and "hired-hand" behavior.
Generation X onward: A demographic group identified by Alex Zubrinsky as being driven away from traditional religious institutions.
Mark Sampson: (2011) A long-time follower of the Greater Good Science Center's work on awe, advocating for its benefits.
North American participants: (2015) 17 individuals (8 females, mean age 39.8) recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk for a pretest in the fMRI study.
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK): (2021) An institution where a study on VR-induced awe and civic participation was conducted with undergraduate students.
University of Amsterdam: (2015) Location of the Spinoza Center for NeuroImaging, where the fMRI experiment on awe was conducted. Participants were recruited from the university's pool, consisting mainly of students and local residents.
Yosemite National Park & Fisherman's Wharf: Locations used in a study to compare awe experiences and self-perception among tourists.
6. FAQ
What is awe and how is it recognized by scientists?
Awe is a complex and mysterious emotion that people might experience when confronted with something vast, impressive, or beautiful, such as standing in front of the Taj Mahal, hiking among towering redwoods, or being moved by a concert or ballet. Scientists have been studying awe for about 15 years, recognizing it through subjective experiences like goosebumps and dropped jaws. Neuroscientific research further identifies awe by its impact on specific brain networks, particularly a reduced activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN), which is associated with self-referential thought.
How does experiencing awe affect an individual's sense of self and humility?
Experiencing awe can significantly alter one's perception of themselves, often leading to what researchers call the "small self" effect. This means individuals feel diminished, insignificant, or less separate and more interrelated to a larger existence. Studies, such as one conducted in Yosemite National Park, showed that people experiencing more awe represented their current self with smaller circles and drew smaller self-portraits. Beyond feeling physically smaller, awe also makes people more humble, prompting them to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses more balanced and recognize the contributions of outside forces to their successes. This reduction in self-focus, or "unselfing," is linked to decreased activity in the brain's Default Mode Network (DMN), which is associated with self-referential processing.
What are the psychological and behavioral benefits of experiencing awe?
Awe offers a wide range of psychological and behavioral benefits. It can lead to increased happiness, improved mood, and better emotion regulation. It fosters prosocial behaviors like generosity, gratitude, and compassion, encouraging individuals to recognize themselves as part of a larger entity and promoting civic participation. Awe also enhances creativity, critical thinking, curiosity, open-mindedness, and optimism. It helps individuals find meaning and purpose in life, and can function as a buffer against negative emotions, making the loss of material possessions feel less significant due to a decreased focus on materialism.
What are the neural correlates of awe in the brain?
Neuroimaging studies, particularly fMRI research, show that experiencing awe is associated with distinct changes in brain activity. A key finding is a reduced activation in regions of the Default Mode Network (DMN), including the frontal pole, angular gyrus, and posterior cingulate cortex. The DMN is primarily involved in self-referential processing and mind-wandering. This reduced DMN activity during awe suggests a decrease in self-focused thought and an immersion in the present experience, similar to states induced by meditation or psychedelic drugs. Conversely, key regions of the fronto-parietal network (FPN), such as the supramarginal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, and insula, show increased activation during awe, indicating the captivating and attention-grabbing nature of awe-inducing stimuli. The prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex also show high activity, helping to process the significance of the experience.
Can awe be experienced in everyday moments, or is it limited to grand, once-in-a-lifetime events?
Awe is not limited to extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime moments or exotic, expensive trips. Researchers emphasize that awe can be experienced in daily, everyday moments. It can arise from ordinary responses to something extraordinary, or extraordinary responses to something ordinary. The ability to find awe in the mundane contributes to its potential for regular well-being benefits.
How does awe relate to materialism and prosocial behavior?
Awe has been shown to decrease materialism. Studies indicate that recalling an awe experience makes individuals place less value on money and reduces the effort they are willing to put into acquiring it. This effect is attributed to the self-transcendence that awe inspires, leading people to feel less separate and more connected to a "larger existence," elevating them above mundane concerns like the desire for money. Furthermore, awe promotes prosocial behaviors such as generosity and civic participation by shifting focus away from self-interest towards others and the broader world.
How can narratives and storytelling enhance the experience and benefits of awe?
Narratives and storytelling play a powerful role in enhancing the experience and benefits of awe, particularly in building resilience and well-being. Sharing and being exposed to "awe narratives" can help individuals make new meaning in their lives, especially when these stories raise existential questions. Personal narratives can increase self-awareness, self-efficacy, and openness, while also decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. For both the storyteller and the listener, narratives can increase empathy, generosity, and social connectedness, motivating reflection on personal lives and promoting a sense of agency in facing life's challenges. The complexity of an awe narrative can demonstrate how a single awe elicitor can lead to numerous other awe attributes and positive emotions.
How can individuals cultivate more awe in their daily lives?
Individuals can actively encourage more awe in their daily lives through several practices. These include spending time in nature, engaging with music and art, listening to music that moves them, or visiting museums and allowing full immersion in the experience. Learning something new, whether by reading about new topics or exploring different cultures, can ignite curiosity and wonder. Staying present in the moment and reflecting on things that bring joy and wonder through gratitude practices can also solidify these feelings.
7. Table of Contents
THE DEEP DIVE: AWE - WHERE EVIDENCE MEETS EMPATHY
Introduction ................................................... 0:00 Welcome to Heliox and the power of awe as both personal and universal experience
Chapter 1: Defining the Indefinable ................................. 2:15 What is awe? Exploring vastness, accommodation, and the challenge of description
Chapter 2: The Landscape of Wonder .................................. 5:30 Where we find awe: from nature and space to everyday moments and human connection
Chapter 3: The Psychology of Transcendence .......................... 8:45 Cognitive and emotional benefits: curiosity, creativity, humility, and meaning-making
Chapter 4: The Social Self ......................................... 12:00 How awe fosters connection, generosity, and pro-social behavior through self-transcendence
Chapter 5: The Body of Wonder ...................................... 15:15 Physical health benefits: stress reduction, cardiovascular health, and healing potential
Chapter 6: Inside the Awestruck Brain .............................. 18:30 Neuroscience of awe: prefrontal cortex, default mode network, and the small self mechanism
Chapter 7: The fMRI Study Deep Dive ................................ 22:45 Research findings on brain networks, attention, and the quieting of self-focused thought
Chapter 8: Stories as Medicine ..................................... 26:00 Narrative health, expressive writing, and the transformative power of sharing experiences
Chapter 9: The Awe Project Insights ................................ 29:30 Qualitative research on everyday awe experiences and their complex, contradictory nature
Chapter 10: Practical Applications ................................. 33:15 From VR therapy for surgery patients to intentional awe-seeking in daily life
Chapter 11: The Resilience Connection .............................. 36:45 How awe acts as positive interruption, stress buffer, and source of renewal
Conclusion: The Daily Practice of Wonder ........................... 39:00 Call to action for intentional awe-seeking and the ripple effects of wonder
Closing Themes .................................................. 41:30 The four recurring narratives: boundary dissolution, adaptive complexity, embodied knowledge, and quantum-like uncertainty
8. Index
Accommodation, need for - 3:45, 28:15, 33:00
Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) - 19:15
Anxiety reduction - 27:30, 35:45
Art and awe - 6:15
Awe Project, The - 29:30, 31:00
Body awareness - 20:30
Brain networks - 18:30, 22:45
Cardiovascular benefits - 16:30
Complexity, holding contradictory feelings - 32:15
Cortisol reduction - 16:00
Creativity enhancement - 9:30
Critical thinking - 9:45
Curiosity - 9:00
Default mode network (DMN) - 23:00, 24:15
Dopamine release - 19:45
Embodied knowledge - 42:00
Emotional regulation - 11:15, 19:30
Everyday awe - 7:45, 30:15, 37:30
Expressive writing - 27:00
fMRI study - 22:45, 24:00
Frontal parietal network (FPN) - 25:15
Healing effects - 15:30, 35:30
Health benefits - 15:15
Humility - 10:45, 31:15
Insula - 20:15
Korean BBQ example - 34:00
Law enforcement - 28:00
Meaning and purpose - 10:00
Medical applications - 35:15
Mindfulness - 31:30
Music and awe - 6:30
Mystery, sense of - 32:00
NASA leaders - 28:15
Narrative health - 26:15, 27:45
Nature experiences - 5:45, 31:00
Need for accommodation (NFA) - 3:45, 28:15
Neuroscience of awe - 18:30
Nurses - 28:30
Oddish, Rana - 28:45
Optimism - 11:30
Physical health - 15:15
Prefrontal cortex - 18:45
Pro-social behaviors - 13:30
Quantum-like uncertainty - 42:15
Reflection - 26:45, 38:15
Religious experiences - 6:45
Resilience - 36:45, 38:00
Self-transcendent emotion - 12:30
Small self - 13:00, 25:00
Social connection - 12:00, 13:15
Spiritual experiences - 7:00, 31:45
Stories, power of - 26:00, 27:15
Stress reduction - 15:45, 37:00
Suicidal ideation reduction - 27:45
Uncertainty, handling - 10:30, 32:00
Unity, sense of - 12:45
Vastness - 3:00, 3:30
Virtual reality (VR) - 7:30, 35:15
Wonder - 11:00, 38:30
9. Post-Episode Fact Check
✅ VERIFIED CLAIMS:
Neuroscience of Awe:
The claim that awe reduces default mode network (DMN) activity is well-supported by peer-reviewed fMRI research NihNuvance Health
The "small self" phenomenon and its connection to reduced DMN activity is confirmed by research from psychology professor Dacher Keltner Freely Human | Neuroscience of Awe
The involvement of prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and other brain regions during awe experiences aligns with current neuroscience understanding
Health Benefits:
VR applications for medical anxiety reduction are being actively researched, with studies showing cortisol reduction effects Awe as a Pathway to Mental and Physical Health - Maria Monroy, Dacher Keltner, 2023
The connection between nature exposure and physiological benefits including lower cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate is well-documented The 9 best Meta applications for stress reduction with VR - Nesplora
VR awe applications for hospitalized children and caregivers are being studied for anxiolytic effects How virtual reality benefits mental health
Definition and Components:
The two-component model of awe (vastness + need for accommodation) is established in psychological literature
The complexity and difficulty of defining awe is acknowledged in research
⚠️ AREAS REQUIRING CLARIFICATION:
Specific Health Claims:
While the podcast mentions cardiovascular benefits and healing effects, the evidence base is more preliminary than definitively established
The connection between awe and reduced suicidal ideation through narrative sharing needs more specific research backing
Neurotransmitter Claims:
The dopamine release during awe experiences is plausible but may be oversimplified - the neurochemical basis of awe is still being researched
Medical Applications:
The "NuVent's Health VR study" mentioned specifically isn't clearly identifiable in current literature, though VR therapy research is robust
✅ SUPPORTED CONCEPTS:
Social and Psychological Benefits:
Pro-social behavior increases following awe experiences
Enhanced creativity and critical thinking
Improved emotional regulation and resilience
Connection to meaning and purpose
Narrative Health:
The therapeutic value of storytelling and expressive writing is well-established
Benefits for both storytellers and listeners
📝 RECOMMENDATIONS:
Add Caveats: While the research is promising, some health benefits should be presented as "emerging research suggests" rather than definitive claims
Specify Studies: The specific fMRI study details could be more precisely attributed to avoid confusion
Clarify Timeline: Some applications (like VR therapy) are still in research phases rather than established treatments
CONCLUSION: The episode presents scientifically sound information about awe, with strong backing for the core neuroscience and psychological claims. The health benefits, while promising, should be presented with appropriate scientific caution. The overall narrative accurately reflects current understanding in emotion research and neuroscience.
10. Image (3000 x 3000 pixels)
