London - When admiring a starry sky or looking out across a vast ocean, we often pause to appreciate the beauty of nature.
But as well as being a pleasurable activity, feeling inspired by the world around us could make us kinder, research suggests.
A study found experiencing a sensation of awe was associated with more altruistic, helpful and positive social behaviour.
By making us feel “diminished in the presence of something greater than oneself” – in other words, prompting us to realise how small and insignificant we really are – awe supposedly shifts our focus from our own needs and towards the greater good.
The researchers, from the University of California, Irvine, studied the behaviour of more than 2 000 people over several experiments. Groups of volunteers were asked to watch a video or gaze at something designed to elicit awe or another emotion – such as pride – or simply a neutral state.
Afterwards, they took part in a series of role-playing games that measured social behaviours such as generosity, helpfulness and acceptance of others.
The study, in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found those who were more awe-inspired behaved in a more “pro-social” way – in that they were more altruistic, positive and friendly.
Daily Mail