A series of replication attempts of experimental awe-induction effects.

Abstract

The self-transcendent emotion of awe has recently received research attention beyond many other emotions due to several intriguing outcomes reported in the experimental literature. Specifically, after inducing awe, Valdesolo and Graham (2014) found that agency detection is increased, Piff and colleagues (2015) found that prosocial behaviors are more likely, and Rudd and colleagues (2012) found that well-being is enhanced. This article tried to conceptually replicate some of these effects in online and laboratory settings using video, writing, and virtual reality awe inductions. Results from these previous studies were generally not reproduced. To further investigate these failures to reproduce previously reported effects of awe, we conducted three online direct replications with 2.5 times the original sample sizes, and past findings also were not reproduced. We discuss these findings in terms of online research on emotion induction tools and provide recommendations for future research on awe.