Awe in Childhood: Conjectures About a Still Unexplored Research Area

Prade, Claire

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.791534

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The hypothesized evolutionary functions predicted that an appreciation for awe-inspiring experiences should be early-emerging. But little research has examined how awe-inspiring experiences are perceived early in life (Prade, 2022), despite abundant research showing that adults appreciate and react positively to awe-inspiring experiences (e.g., Bai et al, 2017;Gottlieb et al, 2018;Griskevicius et al, 2010;Guan et al, 2019;Koh et al, 2019;McPhetres, 2019;Piff et al, 2015;Rivera et al, 2020;Rudd et al, 2012;Stellar et al, 2017;Valdesolo & Graham, 2014;Valdesolo et al, 2017). From a developmental perspective, our work adopts a social cognitive approach and systematically investigates how children perceive awe-inspiring experiences.…”

Section: Children Appreciate Diverse Effects Of Awe-inspiring Experie...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing Awe: How Children Perceive Awe-Inspiring Visual Experiences

O’bi¹,

Yang²

2023

Preprint

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Humans may have evolved to appreciate awe-inspiring experiences. To shed light on its origin, four studies (three preregistered) examined 4-9-year-old children’s (N = 301) perceptions of awe-inspiring experiences. Children recognized vast nature as an elicitor of awe facial expression and reported mixed emotions in response to awe experiences (Study 1). Both positive (Study 2) and threatening (Study 3) awe experiences were more likely than neutral experiences to promote perceived vastness, motivation to explore, and awareness of unknown things. Compared to crowd experiences, awe experiences elicited more of these effects and positively affected children’s sense of self (Study 4). These findings suggest that awe experiences are appreciated early in life, shedding light on the origin and nature of this important self-transcendent experience.

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Section: Children Appreciate Diverse Effects Of Awe-inspiring Experie...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing Awe: How Children Perceive Awe-Inspiring Visual Experiences

O’bi¹,

Yang²

2023

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Recent work, however, points toward selfreflection as a continuum rather than a binary distinction (Lage et al, 2022). Prade (2022) suggests that the development of awe in humans should, in some sense, mirror the development of self-reflection. Prade suggests that awe may not emerge until the ages of 4 to 7 years when the selfconcept develops and becomes more concrete.…”

Section: Awe As An Epistemic Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Awe Shaped Us: An Evolutionary Perspective

Richesin

Baldwin

2022

Emotion Review

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Research shows the experience of awe is associated with a variety of benefits ranging from increased well-being and prosocial behavior to enhanced cognition. The adaptive purpose of awe, however, is elusive. In this article, we aim to show that the current framework used to conceptualize awe points towards higher-order cognition as the key adaptive function. This goes against past evolutionary positions that posit social benefits or unidimensional behavioral adaptations. In the second half of the article, we highlight a distinct cognitive advantage of awe. The literature connecting awe and cognition is surveyed and used to develop a view that situates awe as a critical component in the cognitive success of the human species.

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“…Given its profound nature, is awe a complex subjective state that only emerges with substantial life experiences and wisdom, or is it a deeply rooted experience appreciated even in early life? Despite abundant research showing that adults appreciate and react positively to awe‐inspiring experiences (e.g., Bai et al., 2017; Gottlieb et al., 2018; Guan et al., 2019; McPhetres, 2019; Piff et al., 2015; Rivera et al., 2020; Rudd et al., 2012; Valdesolo et al., 2017), little research has examined how awe‐inspiring experiences are perceived early in life (Prade, 2022). To understand the origins of our capacity to perceive awe, our work adopts a social cognitive developmental approach and systematically investigates how 4–9 year‐old children perceive awe‐inspiring visual experiences.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeing awe: How children perceive awe‐inspiring visual experiences

O'bi,

Yang

2024

Child Development

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Awe is a profound, self‐transcendent emotion. To illuminate its origin, four preregistered studies examined how U.S. 4‐ to 9‐year‐old children perceive awe‐inspiring stimuli (N = 444, 55% female, 58% White, tested in 2020–2023). Awe‐inspiring expansive nature (Study 1) and natural disaster scenes (Study 2) evoked perceived vastness, motivation to explore, and awareness of the unknown more than everyday scenes did (d ranging 0.32–1.76). Compared to expansive social stimuli, expansive nature stimuli more positively affected children's sense of self (Study 3). Diverse awe‐inspiring scenes (vast nature, natural disasters, and slow‐motion objects) all elicited awe and higher learning motivation than everyday scenes did (Study 4). These findings suggest that children appreciate awe‐inspiring visual experiences, illuminating the origins and nature of awe as a self‐transcendent experience.

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Awe in Childhood: Conjectures About a Still Unexplored Research Area

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Seeing Awe: How Children Perceive Awe-Inspiring Visual Experiences

Seeing Awe: How Children Perceive Awe-Inspiring Visual Experiences

How Awe Shaped Us: An Evolutionary Perspective

Seeing awe: How children perceive awe‐inspiring visual experiences

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