Awe

• In Event: Complex Emotions in Media-Psychology Research

Abstract

Although philosophical and theological musing about awe date back centuries, only recently has the emotion drawn much attention from communication and psychology scholars. In general, as an emotion awe is thought to be a reaction to perceptually vast stimuli, which exceed a person’s ordinary frame of reference or that do not fit into existing mental structures, such that some form of accommodation or adjustment to those cognitive structures is necessary for comprehension. A common example of an elicitor of awe is the Grand Canyon. The experience of awe is associated with a variety of reactions: goose bumps, distinct expressive displays, spiritual thoughts, and prosocial intentions and behaviors, to name a few. But can a mediated portrayal of the Grand Canyon elicit awe. More generally, can (and do) audiences experience awe with media content? If so, when? And why? And if not, why not?

Authors

• Arthur A. Raney, Florida State U

• Daniel Possler, Hannover U of Music, Drama and Media