The DOI matches its Crossref record; 87 of the 87 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Self-Transcendent Emotions and Their Social Functions: Compassion, Gratitude, and Awe Bind Us to Others Through Prosociality
Abstract
In this article we review the emerging literature on the self-transcendent emotions. We discuss how the self-transcendent emotions differ from other positive emotions and outline the defining features of this category. We then provide an analysis of three specific self-transcendent emotions—compassion, gratitude, and awe—detailing what has been learned about their expressive behavior, physiology, and likely evolutionary origins. We propose that these emotions emerged to help humans solve unique problems related to caretaking, cooperation, and group coordination in social interactions. In our final section we offer predictions about the self-transcendent emotions that can guide future research.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Awe- and compassion-inducing experiences are related to diminished self-salience and social isolation (34, 68, 69), whereas values- and meaning-oriented interventions support existential reorientation and purpose reconstruction (36, 65, 71).”
From The therapeutic role of self-transcendence in moral injury recovery: theory, mechanisms, and clinical implications (2026) · cites this paper as [69]
In the citing paper
“These emotions decrease the salience of the individual self and promote union with other people and social groups (Haidt, 2003b; Van Cappellen and Rimé, 2014; Stellar et al., 2017).”
From Emotional processes, collective behavior, and social movements: A meta-analytic review of collective effervescence outcomes during collective gatherings and demonstrations (2022) · cites this paper as Stellar et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“Research on transcendent positive emotions, particularly awe, demonstrates that such emotions expand individuals’ sense of social connectedness and increase identification with broader collective categories, thereby promoting generosity, helping, and cooperative behavior (Bai et al., 2017; Piff et al., 2015; Stellar et al., 2017).”
From Peer Attachment and Prosocial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Positive Legal Emotion and the Moderating Effect of Social Exclusion (2026) · cites this paper as Stellar et al., 2017
Citations
Cites
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.56.3.218 · Cited by 18,025
Lazarus, R. S. (1991) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195069945.001.0001 · Cited by 12,691
The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism
Trivers, R. L. (1971) · The Quarterly Review of Biology · doi:10.1086/406755 · Cited by 11,010
The descent of man and selection in relation to sex
チャールス, ダ., & 茂穂, 田. (1907) · Tokyo Jinrui Gakkai zasshi · doi:10.1537/ase1887.22.495 · Cited by 10,909
Journal of personality and social psychology
Armstrong, J. (1988) · International Journal of Forecasting · doi:10.1016/0169-2070(88)90126-4 · Cited by 10,544
An argument for basic emotions
Ekman, P. (1992) · Cognition and Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699939208411068 · Cited by 9,646
Handbook of Affective Sciences
(2002) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195126013.001.0001 · Cited by 5,113
Patterns of cognitive appraisal in emotion.
Smith, C. A., & Ellsworth, P. C. (1985) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.48.4.813 · Cited by 4,273
Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.84.2.377 · Cited by 3,826 · cited 2×
“In addition, keeping a gratitude journal each week increased people’s feelings of connection to others and reported prosociality compared to control activities (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).”
BackgroundThe grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography.
McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J.-A. (2002) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.82.1.112 · Cited by 3,664
Research works printed but not linked: 12
- 10.1177/002224297604000413 · DOI
- Eibl-Eibesfeldt I., 1989, Human ethology
- 10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377 · DOI · Paper page
- Fischer A. H., 2008, Handbook of emotion, 456
- 10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218 · DOI · Paper page
- Gilbert P., 2013, Mindful compassion
- 10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.112 · DOI · Paper page
- Sober E., 1998, Unto others
- Stellar J. E., 2017, Cultural differences in experiences of awe
- Stellar J. E., 2017, Awe and humility
- Stellar J. E., 2017, Compassion reduces stress by shifting one’s perspective
- Stellar J. E., Compassion: Concepts, research and applications
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 501–600 of 695
App-based Mindfulness Training Supported Eudaimonic Wellbeing during the COVID19 pandemicPreprint
de Zavala, A. G. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/sqkf5 · Cited by 1
Diessner, R. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-48129-1_57 · Cited by 1
Wang, W., Qin, Y., Zheng, X., & Mou, J. (2025) · Information & Management · doi:10.1016/j.im.2025.104257 · Cited by 1
Complexity as a Potential Neurophysiological Correlate of AwePreprint
Chen, J. C. C., Mace, G., Ostrand, A. E., Valtierra, C., Griffith, S., Campusano, R., Li, A. I., Vinson, E., Schlomberg, J. T., Eshel, M. N., et al. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.11.20.689403 · Cited by 2
Fleming, W. H. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1701564
“Induction of self-transcendent emotions — such as awe, elevation, and gratitude — de fi ned as emotions that decrease self-salience and orient toward larger realities or others ’ welfare (35, 69, 80).”
InfluentialSun, W., & Xu, S. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16040494
“…emotions, particularly awe, demonstrates that such emotions expand individuals’ sense of social connectedness and increase identification with broader collective categories, thereby promoting generosity, helping, and cooperative behavior (Bai et al., 2017; Piff et al., 2015; Stellar et al., 2017).”
Understudied Negative Emotions: What They Can Tell Us About the Nature of Emotions
Harris, C. R. (2018) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073918801177
Lo, Y. C. (2019) · Queensland University of Technology · doi:10.5204/thesis.eprints.132685
Bewunderung und Verehrung aus psychologischer Sicht
Schindler, I. (2019) · J.B. Metzler eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-476-05353-4_33
Affektive Wirkungen politischer Kommunikation
Leonhard, L., & Bartsch, A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-26242-6_42-1
Fostering Engagement in an Era of Dissipating Publics
Clark, L. S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108886260.011
Waisbord, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108886260.015
A Phenomenological Study Of Emotion Amid Significant Organizational Change
Menchini, I. (2020) · DUNE - DigitalUNE (University of New England)
Tasleem, R., & Siddiqui, D. A. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3757831 · Cited by 2
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.004
Eco-Art Therapy and Youth Loneliness in a Digital Age
Selby, R. P. (2021) · Spectrum Research Repository (Concordia University)
Jak inteligentnie kontrolować swoje zachowania? Siła woli w życiu codziennym
Jędrzejczyk, J. (2021) · Wydawnictwo Liberi Libri eBooks · doi:10.47943/lib.9788363487515.rozdzial02
Łowicki, P. (2021) · Wydawnictwo Liberi Libri eBooks · doi:10.47943/lib.9788363487515.rozdzial07
Rethinking Media Research for Changing Societies
Powers, M., & Russell, A. (2021)
Motivation and Optimal Functioning
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.002
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.001
Your Toolbox for Motivating Self and Others
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.010
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.005
(2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.011
Guiding Principles for Motivating Self and Others
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.009
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.006
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.012
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.003
Evolutionary Origins of Social Purpose
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.007
Ford, M. E., & Smith, P. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108869164.008 · Cited by 1
Inteligencja w codziennym życiu
(2021) · Wydawnictwo Liberi Libri eBooks · doi:10.47943/lib.9788363487515 · Cited by 12
(2021) · Wydawnictwo Liberi Libri eBooks · doi:10.47943/lib.9788363487515.rozdzial00a
Associations Between Self-Reported Awe and Heart Rate
Bernstein, L. (2022) · doi:10.33915/etd.11422
Supplemental Material for Legacies and Last Words: Exploring Expressed Experiences of Robot Death
Banks, J. (2022) · Technology Mind and Behavior · doi:10.1037/tmb0000097.supp
Affektive Wirkungen politischer Kommunikation
Leonhard, L., & Bartsch, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-658-26233-4_42
Function and Gratuity in Theology and Biology
Grey, C. (2022) · Philosophy Theology and the Sciences · doi:10.1628/ptsc-2022-0005
The Self-Change Mechanism of Work Awe Affecting the Psychological Well-Being of Employees
孙, 春. (2023) · Advances in Psychology · doi:10.12677/ap.2023.132073
Chen, Y.-C. (2023) · Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in social science, education and humanities research · doi:10.2991/978-2-38476-028-2_2
When Awe Strikes: The Ebb of Loneliness in Response to Awe and Human Connection
Elias, H., Trujillo, A., & Claypool, H. M. (2023) · Journal of Student Research · doi:10.47611/jsr.v12i2.1932
شريف, س. ع. ا. (2023) · مجلة کلیة التربیة فى العلوم النفسیة · doi:10.21608/jfeps.2023.312263
Awe Facilitates Focused Attention at Midlife
Patrick, J. H. (2023) · Research Directs in Psychology and Behavior · doi:10.53520/rdpb2023.10785
What elicits love and gratitude? A cross-cultural comparison between the U.S., China, and ChilePreprint
Liu, C., Espinosa, N., & Salvador, C. E. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/jkfsx
Diessner, R. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_57-1
Schindler, I. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_153-1
Gantt-Shafer, J. (2023) · Culture Studies ↔ Critical Methodologies · doi:10.1177/15327086231217228
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.133
Part one: Around Meaning. Kindness in philosophy – the philosophy of kindness
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.19
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.15
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.front
Part two: Around Meaning. Conceptualization of Kindness – Research Project
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.61
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.toc
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.147
Preface: Semantics. Polish and English understandings of the word “kindness”
(2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803.9
Szafran, J., & Cwojdzińska, A. (2024) · V&R unipress eBooks · doi:10.14220/9783737016803
Applications of the Wholeness/Spiritual Intelligence Model
Thakadipuram, T. (2024) · Palgrave studies in workplace spirituality and fulfillment · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-28967-5_6
Dutta, T., & Bandyopadhyay, A. (2024) · Studies in Rhythm Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-9334-5_9
Awe on the Virtual Frontier: Vr Awe and its Relationship to Identity Fusion with the Vr CommunityPreprint
Song, J. Y., Khorasani, S., & Bastian, B. B. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4778892
Witnessing Meaningful Interpersonal Encounters Facilitates the Perception of Social Emotions
Westmoreland, K. E., Gilchrist, I. D., & Susanne Quadflieg, A. (2024) · Social Cognition · doi:10.1521/soco.2024.42.2.85
Introducing a New Model of Wellbeing: Applications to the General Public and Student Population.
Mead, J. (2023) · Cronfa (Swansea University) · doi:10.23889/suthesis.66119
Manokara, K., Lindström, J., Norman, J. B., Leal, A. L., Russell, P. S., & Cohen‐Chen, S. (2024) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/5js8t
Leadership as an Emotional Process
Lonati, S., Garfield, Z. H., Bastardoz, N., & Rueden, C. R. V. (2024) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197544754.013.33
Bodelet, C., Paucsik, M., Landelle, C., & Gauchet, A. (2024) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2024.2357293
A Proposed Model of Therapy: Dementia Grief Therapy
Ione, A. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55440-7_6
White Supremacy, Masculinity, Patriotism, Social Character
Lundskow, G. N. (2024) · Frontiers in sociology and social research · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-60563-5_1
Father-Love Absence and Moral Sensitivity: The Mediating Effect of Awe and Perspective-Taking
Song, Q., Li, X., & Xiang, Y. (2024) · Deviant Behavior · doi:10.1080/01639625.2024.2350976 · Cited by 1
Hitsuwari, J., Hayashi, T., Woodman, K., Du, M., Morita, M., Takiguchi, S., Yamashita, Y., & Nomura, M. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4991388/v1
Review of Prosocial Behavioral Measurements
余, 巧. (2024) · Advances in Social Sciences · doi:10.12677/ass.2024.139799
La catalyse des processus psychothérapeutiques par psychédéliques
Penzenstadler, L. E., ZULLINO, D. F., & Thorens, G. (2023) · Psychothérapies · doi:10.3917/psys.242.0134
Effects of finitude salience and value orientation on the feeling of being moved
Kato, J. (2024) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1002/ijop.13253
Schindler, I. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-48129-1_153
Feelings of gratitude to Allah and people and their associations with affect in daily life
Newman, D. B., Balkaya‐Ince, M., Nelson, J. M., Tsang, J.-A. C., & Schnitker, S. A. (2024) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2024.2399715 · Cited by 1
Rodríguez-Hernández, A. F., Sepúlveda-Aravena, J., Melgarejo-Coronel, M., & Duarte-Lores, I. (2024) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs14110983 · Cited by 2
A More Compassionate Mode of University Leadership
Toroghi, H. H., Denney, F., & Simpson, A. V. (2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s2051-233320240000010005
The function of feeling kama muta in face of collective threat
Koh, A. H. Q., Nakayama, M., Liew, K., & Uchida, Y. (2025) · Social Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.32872/spb.13457
Influencing Factors and Promoting Strategies for Sustainable Behavior
李, 婷. (2025) · Advances in Psychology · doi:10.12677/ap.2025.152079
Effects of Neighborhood Environments on Mental Process that Promotes Walking
ISHIKAWA, A., HIRATA, M., Higuchi, M.-A., & Sakaki, A. (2025) · Transactions of Japan Society of Kansei Engineering · doi:10.5057/jjske.tjske-d-24-00037
Wang, X., Luo, L., & Yuan, J. (2025) · PsyCh Journal · doi:10.1002/pchj.70008
Pandemic Threat Boosts Our Love for Eco-friendly Products through the Mediator of Awe
Wang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2024) · International Conference on Public Health and Data Science (ICPHDS) · doi:10.1145/3718677.3718718
Sander, D. (2025) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003546986-9
Ayahuasca Retreats: The Role of Awe and Mystical Experiences in Well-Being
Maclean, B. R., Wilson, A. E., Allen, A., Schaffer, V., & Kannis‐Dymand, L. (2025) · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs · doi:10.1080/02791072.2025.2491378 · Cited by 1
Dorjee, D. (2025) · PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/7vx45_v3
A Causal Analysis of Five Population-Wide Health Interventions: Evidence From New Zealand Panel Data
Kempthorne, J. (2025) · Open Access Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka (Figshare) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.29474216
Bortree, D. S., Vafeiadis, M., Diddi, P., & Harrison, V. (2025) · Journal of Philanthropy · doi:10.1002/nvsm.70023
Disconnected from complexity: on nature exposure, sociality, and the self-organizing self
Berrett, T. (2025) · New Ideas in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101182
Eudaimonic Entertainment Experiences
Raney, A. A., & Oliver, M. B. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197689875.013.0021
Lira, C. D., Broschat, S. L., Adesope, O., & Hundhausen, C. D. (2025) · ACM Transactions on Computing Education · doi:10.1145/3746460
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.002.0007
Cameron, B. K. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.002.0006
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.003.0003
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.003.0002
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.002.0008
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.003.0004
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.003.0005
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.003.0001
Fredrickson, B. L. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197754825.002.0005
Cultivating Wisdom for an Ecological Civilization
Hathaway, M. D. (2025) · Springer international handbooks of education · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-8101-0_78-1
Pandemic December: How to stay connected and resilient in a COVID-19 holiday season
Ritchie, K., & Gérin‐Lajoie, C. (2020) · doi:10.64628/aam.hujs45x7g
Metadata
- Authors
- Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A. M., Piff, P. K., Cordaro, D., Anderson, C. L., Bai, Y., Maruskin, L. A., & Keltner, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Yale University (US)
- San Francisco VA Medical Center (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stellar, Jennifer E.
- Venue
- Emotion Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-06-15
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 200-207
- ISSN
- 1754-0739 (ISSN-L)
- 1754-0747
- OpenAlex
- W2626605398
- Semantic Scholar
- 79bc14aa0a63a9a1ff2abc98ff9e96dbd432664f
- Cited by
- 696
- References
- 87
- Citations by year
- 2026: 79 · 2025: 121 · 2024: 100 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 84 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 5
- FWCI
- 60.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Emotion Review (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- John Templeton Foundation (88210, 95524)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Aesthetic Perception and Analysis
- Keywords
- self-transcendent emotions, compassion, gratitude, awe, prosocial behavior, social functions of emotion, positive emotions, expressive behavior, physiological responses, evolutionary origins of emotion, cooperation, group coordination, caregiving
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
