Awe Promotes Perspective-Taking via Self-Transcendence: Implications for Cooperation

This research identifies awe as an emotional factor that promotes perspective-taking. Utilizing a multi-method approach, we systematically investigate the influence of awe on perspective-taking, exploring its mechanisms and downstream consequences. We consistently found that awe is associated with (Studies 2 and 4) and promotes (Studies 1, 3, and 5) perspective-taking, with self-transcendence mediating this relationship (Studies 3, 4, and 5). Furthermore, the downstream effects of awe and perspective-taking manifest in association with (Study 4) and promote cooperative behavior (Study 5). The impact of awe on perspective-taking was not reducible to its positive valence (Study 1), and the mediation model was established beyond the influence of the small self (Study 3). These findings enrich the research on the relationship between emotions and perspective-taking, emphasizing the role of awe in promoting social cohesion.