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Understanding the Power of Awe

Jan 24, 2025

Oh my: A Psychological Approach to Awe - Science Weekly Podcast

Overview

  • Host: Nicola Davis
  • Produced by: Max Sanderson
  • Publication Date: December 14, 2018

Main Topic

  • Exploration of the emotion of awe and its psychological impact.
  • Discussion on the evolutionary importance of awe as one of humanity's most powerful emotions.

Key Discussions

What is Awe?

  • Awe is a powerful emotion often inspired by breathtaking landscapes, art, or phenomena like sunsets.
  • It is considered a lesser-studied emotion in psychology compared to joy, anger, or disgust.

Psychological and Evolutionary Importance

  • Awe might be one of the most significant emotions in our emotional repertoire.
  • The podcast attempts to uncover the psychological mechanisms behind awe.
  • Exploration of how awe potentially benefited our ancestors and its relevance today.

Expert Guests

Professor Dacher Keltner

  • Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley.
  • Notable Work: Co-authored a pivotal theoretical paper on awe in 2003.
  • Contributions: Provides insight into foundational theories about awe.

Dr. Melanie Rudd

  • Affiliation: University of Houston.
  • Research Focus: Links between time perception, well-being, and awe.
  • Contributions: Offers experimental evidence supporting the theory of awe.

Key Papers Discussed

  • Keltner & Haidt (2003): A foundational paper on the theory of awe.
  • Rudd et al (2003): Discusses research findings on awe's effects on time perception and well-being.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

  • The podcast delves into the essence of awe, emphasizing its potential benefits for modern humans and its role in our evolutionary past.
  • Encourages listeners to recognize and seek experiences that provoke awe as a means of enhancing personal well-being.