What makes us stop in our tracks and feel amazed by the world around us? How does experiencing wonder change the way we see ourselves and others?
A sense of awe connects us to something larger than ourselves—whether that’s gazing at a starlit sky or witnessing an act of extraordinary kindness. This powerful emotion shapes our understanding of reality and serves important functions for both individuals and society.
Read on to understand how psychology professor Dacher Keltner defines awe.
Our Sense of Awe
Keltner’s research on awe began with the challenge of defining and studying an emotion that seemed elusive and difficult to measure. As Keltner sees it, awe is a feeling of connection with something grander than your personal experience of life and the world around you. That larger “something” can be physical, intellectual, or emotional, but invariably, it challenges your existing knowledge and expands your understanding of reality. We’ll explore the reasons we feel awe—how this specific emotion manifests in the brain and what purpose it serves for individuals and human society as a whole.
(Shortform note: The feeling of transcendental connection that Keltner characterizes as “awe” is fundamentally an emotional experience, but science educator Neil DeGrasse Tyson describes something similar from an intellectual point of view—what he calls the cosmic perspective. Like Keltner’s sense of awe, Tyson’s cosmic perspective gives us a vital ego-check by forcing us to realize that our differences are trivial compared to the things we have in common. In Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Tyson explains that adopting a cosmic perspective strips us of our archaic belief that we hold a special place in the universe while affirming what we share in common and providing new frontiers for discovery.)
Though Keltner writes about awe in a largely positive light, he acknowledges that the word “awe” has roots in ancient terms for “fear.” While virtually all definitions of “awe” refer to a connection with something larger than yourself, awe can also feel psychologically threatening. (Shortform note: In Being Wrong, Kathryn Schulz explains why: Many of our core beliefs are tightly bound to our sense of identity, and anything that calls those beliefs into question—such as feelings of awe at things beyond our comprehension—can feel like a personal attack. According to Schulz, confronting things beyond our experience goes hand-in-hand with the discomfort of doubt, which our minds automatically rebel against.)
Keltner believes that awe is part of a broader category of self-transcendent emotional states that include joy and gratitude—all of which help us connect to something larger than ourselves. To better understand awe, Keltner collected stories of wonder from people all over the world. He also explored how awe is unlike other emotions. While awe can be felt in conjunction with fear—like when you feel amazed by a giant great white shark—awe inhabits its own emotional space closer to feelings of interest and admiration. Awe is also related to appreciation of beauty, but it’s distinct in that it’s a reaction to things that take our breath away, from ancient cathedrals to another person’s acts of self-sacrifice.
(Shortform note: Keltner’s research into awe falls into a wider category of higher states of consciousness, which are the subject of growing popular and scientific interest. In Stealing Fire, Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal describe a modern revolution in our understanding of peak states of consciousness, which we can reach through meditation, the use of psychedelics, and other boundary-pushing activities. Like Keltner, Kotler and Wheal argue that we should seek to integrate higher states of consciousness—such as awe—into our lives because they produce intrinsically meaningful experiences, enhance creativity, and can help us address complex, real-world challenges.)
Exercise: How Has Awe Shaped Your Life?
Keltner suggests that the sense of awe lifts us out of our ego-driven perspectives and puts us in touch with something greater than ourselves. Reflect on the times you’ve felt awe in your life and how those experiences framed your thoughts about the world, even if only for a moment.
- What was a musical or artistic performance that deeply moved you on some level? During the performance, were your thoughts about yourself, the emotional experience conveyed by the performer, or the energy of the other people around you? After the performance, how long did your feelings last?
- Describe a natural wonder, big or small, that left you dumbstruck when you saw it. How did the experience reshape your feelings about yourself and your place in the world?
- Think of an instance when you found yourself amazed at someone else’s actions. Was it because the person showed bravery, kindness, or a stunning display of skill? Did their actions inspire you to change your own behavior, and if so, how?
