June 2015 PMID 25984788

Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior.

Paul K Piff, Pia Dietze, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel M Stancato, Dacher Keltner

Mentions

57
Peak: 8 in Jan 2026
across 7 sources since Aug 2015

Extended reach

169,377
potential audience

Total likes

65

Video views

2,811

Mentions per month

Aug 2015 – Jan 2026

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter19 posts
  • Blogs15 articles
  • Facebook9 posts
  • Instagram7 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • News3 articles
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The analysis reflects strong agreement and curiosity about how awe fosters prosocial actions, as seen in posts describing experiences in nature and citing scientific findings, demonstrating a thoughtful engagement with the underlying mechanisms and social implications discussed in the publication.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions agree that experiencing awe promotes prosocial behaviors and social connectedness, citing findings from the publication and reinforcing ideas of positive social effects.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high interest, with many posts referencing specific studies, natural experiences, and emphasizing the significance of awe for mental health and social harmony.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many posts delve into details about how awe functions to diminish the small self and enhance ethical decision-making, indicating deep engagement with the article's content.

ImpactModerate impact

While some posts highlight the potential for awe to impact social behavior broadly, the overall sense is that these discussions are influential but not necessarily transformative on a large scale yet.

Abstract in brief

  • Awe is an emotional response to vast stimuli that go beyond our current understanding, which can reduce focus on the self and promote helping others.
  • Multiple studies, including experiments and surveys, show that experiencing awe leads to increased generosity, ethical decisions, and prosocial values, partly because awe makes people feel smaller and less self-centered.
  • Natural experiences of awe, like standing among tall trees, also boost helping behaviors and reduce entitlement, suggesting that awe can foster a greater sense of community and collective concern.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
hideyuki takahashi
@hideman2009 · X

畏敬の念を感じて自分のちっぽけさを実感すると向社会性が高まる Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883. https://t.co/LAr0sYe4M7

Oct 28, 2020 · 13 likes · 6,589 followers View post →
Andrew Revkin
@Revkin · X

Invaluable #sustcomm study on the power of awe: Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior https://t.co/gCp4CsT2mo https://t.co/J2VFOBDpvN

Jun 2, 2019 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 83,804 followers View post →
Jay Up North
@TherapyUpNorth · X

“Awe shifts people away from being the centre of their own individual worlds, toward a focus on the broader social context & their place within it”: https://t.co/7jSwoDqI1C Full of awe from holiday #sunrise swims. #365dayswild #wellbeing #therapistsconnect #mentalhealth #health https://t.co/XcBKINFDNG

Nov 7, 2022 · 6 likes · 3 shares · 3,765 followers View post →
Reb
@soundrotator · X

From "Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior" https://t.co/qTphUcFdI1

May 6, 2025 · 5 likes · 5,468 followers View post →
Jay Up North
@TherapyUpNorth · X

We can feel more connected to other people & to humanity as a whole when we experience awe: https://t.co/UkpfjXJio3 #365dayswild #wellbeing #nature #therapy #outdoors #mindfulness #naturephotography #therapistsconnect #selfcare #mentalhealth #health Snowdonia from Anglesey. https://t.co/uxU14Mjh0U

Nov 30, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 3,765 followers View post →
kindness.org
@kindness_org · X

Experiencing 'awe' – for example, by standing in a grove of towering trees – "increased ethical decision-making, generosity, and prosocial values [and] helping behavior" https://t.co/6kIQPhp6fG #randomfactsofkindness

Aug 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 1 share · 6,036 followers View post →

All mentions

Tracy Brower
@TracyBrower108 · X

Feeling awe increases prosocial behavior https://t.co/N0YXeYnoNF

Dec 14, 2025 · 9,340 followers View post →
SalemMDID
@SalemMDID · X

@Shadow_5757 بسم الله نبدأ: الدراسة 1 ارتباط استثارة الدهشة الجمالية مع الميل أكثر لإتخاذ قرارات أخلاقية.. الدراسة 2 ازدياد الحساسية الجمالية لدى الأشخاص يرتبط بسلوك أخلاقي أعلى في التسامح والميل للخير.. https://t.co/KsR5AUsOWt https://t.co/bDbNYAOLh3

Oct 16, 2025 · 3 likes · 2,985 followers View post →
Reb
@soundrotator · X

From "Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior" https://t.co/qTphUcFdI1

May 6, 2025 · 5 likes · 5,468 followers View post →
Lana Hitge
@vissermanprojek · X

RT @80_incognito: "Our investigation indicates that awe... serves a vital social function. By diminishing the emphasis on the individual se…

Nov 15, 2024 · 1 share · 193 followers View post →
Bowie's Pa
@80_incognito · X

"Our investigation indicates that awe... serves a vital social function. By diminishing the emphasis on the individual self, awe may encourage people to forego strict self-interest to improve the welfare of others." https://t.co/VuxodlUDZf

Nov 14, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 244 followers View post →
#TherapistsConnect
@Therapists_C · X

RT @TherapyUpNorth: We can feel more connected to other people & to humanity as a whole when we experience awe: https://t.co/UkpfjXJio3 #36…

Nov 30, 2022 · 1 share · 14,169 followers View post →
Jay Up North
@TherapyUpNorth · X

We can feel more connected to other people & to humanity as a whole when we experience awe: https://t.co/UkpfjXJio3 #365dayswild #wellbeing #nature #therapy #outdoors #mindfulness #naturephotography #therapistsconnect #selfcare #mentalhealth #health Snowdonia from Anglesey. https://t.co/uxU14Mjh0U

Nov 30, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 3,765 followers View post →
#TherapistsConnect
@Therapists_C · X

RT @TherapyUpNorth: “Awe shifts people away from being the centre of their own individual worlds, toward a focus on the broader social cont…

Nov 7, 2022 · 3 shares · 14,169 followers View post →
Ger Craig
@craig_ger · X

RT @TherapyUpNorth: “Awe shifts people away from being the centre of their own individual worlds, toward a focus on the broader social cont…

Nov 7, 2022 · 3 shares · 756 followers View post →
#365DaysWild - a little bit wild, every day
@365DaysWild · X

RT @TherapyUpNorth: “Awe shifts people away from being the centre of their own individual worlds, toward a focus on the broader social cont…

Nov 7, 2022 · 3 shares · 3,657 followers View post →
Jay Up North
@TherapyUpNorth · X

“Awe shifts people away from being the centre of their own individual worlds, toward a focus on the broader social context & their place within it”: https://t.co/7jSwoDqI1C Full of awe from holiday #sunrise swims. #365dayswild #wellbeing #therapistsconnect #mentalhealth #health https://t.co/XcBKINFDNG

Nov 7, 2022 · 6 likes · 3 shares · 3,765 followers View post →
Salhi
@iamsalhi · X

“Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior” https://t.co/phozX64TRE

Nov 4, 2022 · 2 likes · 485 followers View post →
ぴ
@MtTekitou · X

崇高な存在を目の前にすると人は他人との協調性、社会性を強めるようになる、という論文、引用だけで原文読んでないのだけど、自然の中でコミュニケーションをとる人たちが私の中で特別なのそういうことなのかな。そのうち読む Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. https://t.co/Hne996pExd

Jan 30, 2022 · 1 like · 300 followers View post →
hideyuki takahashi
@hideman2009 · X

畏敬の念を感じて自分のちっぽけさを実感すると向社会性が高まる Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883. https://t.co/LAr0sYe4M7

Oct 28, 2020 · 13 likes · 6,589 followers View post →
Oliver Scott Curry
@Oliver_S_Curry · X

RT @kindness_org: Experiencing 'awe' – for example, by standing in a grove of towering trees – "increased ethical decision-making, generosi…

Aug 27, 2020 · 1 share · 5,937 followers View post →
kindness.org
@kindness_org · X

Experiencing 'awe' – for example, by standing in a grove of towering trees – "increased ethical decision-making, generosity, and prosocial values [and] helping behavior" https://t.co/6kIQPhp6fG #randomfactsofkindness

Aug 27, 2020 · 3 likes · 1 share · 6,036 followers View post →
Becca
@BeccaZ · X

RT @Revkin: Invaluable #sustcomm study on the power of awe: Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior https://t.co/gCp4CsT2mo https://t…

Jun 2, 2019 · 2 shares · 534 followers View post →
ken crichlow
@ken_crichlow · X

RT @Revkin: Invaluable #sustcomm study on the power of awe: Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior https://t.co/gCp4CsT2mo https://t…

Jun 2, 2019 · 2 shares · 3,975 followers View post →
Andrew Revkin
@Revkin · X

Invaluable #sustcomm study on the power of awe: Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior https://t.co/gCp4CsT2mo https://t.co/J2VFOBDpvN

Jun 2, 2019 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 83,804 followers View post →
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... Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883–899. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000018. more. View 1 comment. 59 minutes ago · ursamajorvt. •.

Feb 29, 2024 View →
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Journal reference: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, DOI: 10.1037/pspi0000018. Topics: psychology/; brains/; mental health.

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