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A meta-analysis examining the relationship between awe and prosocial behavior

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Abstract

The influence of awe on prosocial behavior has inconsistent results. A meta-analysis examined the relationship between awe and prosocial behavior and its moderating factors. A total of 38 articles were found, and 57 independent effect sizes were included in the analysis (N = 20,997). The study revealed that dispositional and state awe moderately positively correlated with prosocial behavior. Additionally, age and cultural background moderated the relationship between dispositional awe and prosocial behavior. Adolescents who have a predisposition for experiencing awe are more likely to exhibit prosocial behavior. Moreover, those with dispositional awe within a collectivistic cultural background are also more inclined to engage in prosocial behavior than individuals with an individualistic cultural background. The results of the meta-analysis clarified the relationship between awe and prosocial behavior and enriched the theory of positive emotion expansion and construction. It provided a basis for subsequent research on the positive consequences of awe.

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Funding

This work was supported by Shanxi Postgraduate Education Innovation Project (2023KY450).

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Author notes

  1. Ruyong Li, Zhe Hou and Chao Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education Science, Shanxi Normal University, **aodian District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China

    Ruyong Li, Chao Zhang & Aiqing Nie

  2. Institute of Applied Psychology, Shanxi Normal University, **aodian District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China

    Ruyong Li & Chao Zhang

  3. Department of Psychology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Zhe Hou

  4. School of Psychology, Nan**g Normal University, Nan**g, China

    Qian Xu

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  1. Ruyong Li
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Correspondence to Chao Zhang.

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Li, R., Hou, Z., Zhang, C. et al. A meta-analysis examining the relationship between awe and prosocial behavior. Curr Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06039-9

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