Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self
Background:Awe promotes altruistic behavior by enhancing the sense of the small self. However, this mediation mechanism has not been consistently replicated, possibly due to variations in the types of awe. No studies have directly examined whether the mediation of the sense of the small self between...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tsinghua University Press
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Stress and Brain |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/SAB.2022.9060036 |
| _version_ | 1797354873128222720 |
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| author | Li Luo Xinyu Yan Jiajin Yuan |
| author_facet | Li Luo Xinyu Yan Jiajin Yuan |
| author_sort | Li Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:Awe promotes altruistic behavior by enhancing the sense of the small self. However, this mediation mechanism has not been consistently replicated, possibly due to variations in the types of awe. No studies have directly examined whether the mediation of the sense of the small self between awe and altruistic behavior holds true in general, or is specific to a certain type of awe induction. Here, we describe an experiment aimed to address this issue.Methods:Two hundred and thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to different emotion groups, including natural awe, social awe, spiritual awe, amusement, and neutrality. After emotional manipulation, the participants were informed of a student’s misfortune and asked to decide how much of their experimental compensation money (RMB 50) they would donate.Results:We observed a promoting effect of awe induction on monetary donation in general, and this effect was similar across the three types of awe. Further mediation analysis indicated that natural awe, uniquely promoted altruistic behavior via the mediation role of the small self.Conclusion:The current study demonstrates the novel insight that, although the different types of awe induction similarly promote altruistic behavior, only natural awe promotes altruistic behavior through increasing sense of the small self. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:56:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e4bc56e8a0749edb03cc19932edbc3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2709-1325 2709-0388 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:56:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Tsinghua University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stress and Brain |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e4bc56e8a0749edb03cc19932edbc3d2024-01-15T14:52:38ZengTsinghua University PressStress and Brain2709-13252709-03882023-11-013312313310.26599/SAB.2022.9060036Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small selfLi Luo0Xinyu Yan1Jiajin Yuan2School of Educational Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641100, ChinaSichuan Key Laboratory of Psychology and Behavior of Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, ChinaSichuan Key Laboratory of Psychology and Behavior of Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, ChinaBackground:Awe promotes altruistic behavior by enhancing the sense of the small self. However, this mediation mechanism has not been consistently replicated, possibly due to variations in the types of awe. No studies have directly examined whether the mediation of the sense of the small self between awe and altruistic behavior holds true in general, or is specific to a certain type of awe induction. Here, we describe an experiment aimed to address this issue.Methods:Two hundred and thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to different emotion groups, including natural awe, social awe, spiritual awe, amusement, and neutrality. After emotional manipulation, the participants were informed of a student’s misfortune and asked to decide how much of their experimental compensation money (RMB 50) they would donate.Results:We observed a promoting effect of awe induction on monetary donation in general, and this effect was similar across the three types of awe. Further mediation analysis indicated that natural awe, uniquely promoted altruistic behavior via the mediation role of the small self.Conclusion:The current study demonstrates the novel insight that, although the different types of awe induction similarly promote altruistic behavior, only natural awe promotes altruistic behavior through increasing sense of the small self.https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/SAB.2022.9060036awealtruistic behaviormonetary donationsmall selfmediation effect |
| spellingShingle | Li Luo Xinyu Yan Jiajin Yuan Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self Stress and Brain awe altruistic behavior monetary donation small self mediation effect |
| title | Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| title_full | Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| title_fullStr | Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| title_short | Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| title_sort | natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self |
| topic | awe altruistic behavior monetary donation small self mediation effect |
| url | https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/SAB.2022.9060036 |
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