Topic Guide
What Is Awe?
Awe is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Awe
Small-to-vast perception shift in awe
This is a core mechanism of awe, where an individual's perception shifts from a focused, small-scale view to an expansive, large-scale view. Dr. Keltner emphasizes that this fundamental shift makes awe accessible and cultivable in everyday life, rather than being an elusive or purely spiritual experience [01:00, 27:36].
Embarrassment as a social signal
The motor pattern of embarrassment (blushing, averted gaze, hiding the face) acts as a non-verbal signal of commitment to group norms and an implicit apology for transgressions. Dr. Keltner's research demonstrates that this reframes embarrassment not as a weakness, but as a vital social glue that fosters trust and liking within groups [97:07, 98:07].
Temporal distancing (in awe)
A phenomenon where awe helps individuals transcend immediate self-concerns by embedding them within larger historical, evolutionary, or personal narratives, connecting present moments to vast time scales encompassing past and future. Dr. Keltner notes that this process fosters equanimity and a sense of being part of something vast [38:52, 41:55].
Collective effervescence
A term originally coined by Émile Durkheim, described in this episode as the shared emotional intensity and brain synchronization that occurs in groups during collective activities like music concerts, sports events, or rituals. Dr. Keltner and Huberman highlight it as a powerful pathway for deep human bonding and a significant source of awe [49:07].
What Experts Say About Awe
- 1.Awe is a powerful emotion that can reduce inflammation, elevate vagal tone, and even alleviate long COVID symptoms, making it a valuable tool for physical and mental health [00:00, 33:45].
- 2.Awe is not elusive but arises from shifting one's perception from a small scale to a very large scale, such as encountering a new horizon or visual vista [01:00, 27:36].
- 3.Emotional science has expanded beyond the initial six basic emotions to identify approximately 20 distinct facial expressions, including awe, laughter, love, and embarrassment, with 50-60% of these expressions being hardwired across cultures [06:06, 08:12].
- 4."Awe walks," which involve slowing down, deepening breathing, and intentionally shifting visual focus from small details to vast patterns, can lead to increased kindness, reduced physical pain, and improved brain health, particularly in older adults [29:41, 32:45].
- 5.Awe connects individuals to something vast and transcendent—be it evolution, nature, a cultural movement, or a group—fostering a sense of belonging and equanimity rather than merely self-forgetfulness [40:54, 41:55].
- 6.Benevolent teasing and embarrassment, when occurring within a trusted collective, serve as crucial mechanisms for social bonding by signaling commitment to group norms and fostering liking and trust among members [97:07, 100:09].