Excellence in media: the effects of ability-based awe videos on prosocial intention and self-improvement

Awe is a self-transcendent emotion gaining attention in media psychology, yet most research focuses on nature-based awe; ability-based awe – elicited by witnessing extraordinary human abilities – remains understudied. Two between-subjects experiments examined how ability-awe evokes vastness and need for accommodation, and how these appraisals foster prosocial and self-improvement motivations. Study 1 (N = 110) compared a physical ability-based video (Olympic pole vault) with a nature-awe and a non-awe control. Study 2 (N = 202) used two Facebook-embedded intellectual-ability videos alongside a nature-awe and non-awe control. Evidence showed that both nature- and ability- based awe elicit stronger awe than the control video. Furthermore, perceived vastness increased, predicting greater prosocial and self-improvement motivation in awe conditions; whereas need for accommodation did not differ significantly across conditions. These findings suggest that media depictions of exceptional human abilities can evoke awe responses that promote personal growth and altruistic intentions, extending understanding of how everyday encounters with awe-related media support positive psychological outcomes.