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Exploring the “Spirit” of Inspiring Media

Mon, June 13, 9:30 to 10:45, Fukuoka Hilton, Argos C

Abstract

In addition to the potential of mediated self-transcendent emotions to inspire the search for meaning in life, purpose, and the motivation to act prosocially, research has also indicated a relationship between several self-transcendent emotions (e.g., elevation, awe, gratitude) and spirituality. Spirituality involves the striving for and experience of connectedness to oneself, others, the world, and the sacred (de Jager Meezenbroek, et al., 2012) and a focus on others more so than the self (Ramasubramanian, 2014). Thus, feeling inspired through our encounters with vastness, moral or natural beauty, or selflessness –and media encounters these may be—is likely to foster spirituality on a state and trait level. This talk will focus on the “spiritual” aspect of “inspirational” media and outline how the portrayals of transcendence related character strengths and self-transcendent emotions in TV shows, films and social media may foster spirituality and consequently well-being.

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