The proximal experience of awe.

Abstract in brief

• Research shows that awe-inspiring experiences can also trigger other emotions like compassion, gratitude, love, and optimism, not just awe itself.
• The studies used virtual reality and videos of space to create awe and found that these experiences increased feelings of connectedness and self-relevant thoughts, which in turn predicted the rise in other positive emotions.
• The findings suggest that experiences typically labeled as awe might actually be part of a broader category called self-transcendent emotions, which could explain some of the emotional and psychological benefits associated with awe.