Bridging me to we: Awe is a conduit to cohesive collectives.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review/theoretical perspective without systematic search methodology (design analogy, non-clinical)
PubMed 39740405 · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101979
What was done
This narrative review synthesized recent empirical evidence examining the social functions of awe—elicited by sources such as nature, art, music, or human virtue—and evaluated how awe-induced reductions in self-focus influence social-cognitive processes and collective behavior.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or sample counts. It describes qualitative findings that awe diminishes self-focused attention and is associated with increases in attentiveness to others, prosocial behavior, conformity, and social connectedness.
Why it matters
It outlines a framework for understanding how awe operates beyond individual well-being to promote collective cohesion, offering potential avenues for addressing broader societal issues like political polarization and climate change.
Limits
The paper is a narrative overview rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis, with no details in the abstract regarding study selection criteria, risk of bias, or statistical pooling. It presents no new empirical data, and the potential negative consequences of increased conformity are not quantified.
Cited by
- supports Focusing on the self, social striving, or one's financial bottom line directly reduces and countervails the experience of awe.