The DOI matches its Crossref record; 81 of the 89 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Designing Awe in Virtual Reality: An Experimental Study
Open accessAbstract
Awe is a little-studied emotion with a great transformative potential. Therefore, the interest toward the study of awe's underlying mechanisms has been increased. Specifically, researchers have been interested in how to reproduce intense feelings of awe within laboratory conditions. It has been proposed that the use of virtual reality (VR) could be an effective way to induce awe in controlled experimental settings, thanks to its ability of providing participants with a sense of "presence," that is, the subjective feeling of being displaced in another physical or imaginary place. However, the potential of VR as awe-inducing medium has not been fully tested yet. In the present study, we provided an evidence-based design and a validation of four immersive virtual environments (VEs) involving 36 participants in a within-subject design. Of these, three VEs were designed to induce awe, whereas the fourth VE was targeted as an emotionally neutral stimulus. Participants self-reported the extent to which they felt awe, general affect and sense of presence related to each environment. As expected, results showed that awe-VEs could induce significantly higher levels of awe and presence as compared to the neutral VE. Furthermore, these VEs induced significantly more positive than negative affect. These findings supported the potential of immersive VR for inducing awe and provide useful indications for the design of awe-inspiring virtual environments.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
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?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Although such experiences are context-sensitive and not uniformly replicable, experimental and field studies suggest that scaled or simulated awe stimuli can reliably elicit measurable shifts in self-perception and meaning (104, 105).”
From The therapeutic role of self-transcendence in moral injury recovery: theory, mechanisms, and clinical implications (2026) · cites this paper as [104]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Defining virtual reality: Dimensions determining telepresence
Steuer, J. (1992) · Journal of Communication · doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1992.tb00812.x · Cited by 5,459
Kim, H.-Y. (2013) · Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics · doi:10.5395/rde.2013.38.1.52 · Cited by 4,035
Frijda, N. H. (1988) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.43.5.349 · Cited by 2,724
The Experience of Presence: Factor Analytic Insights
Schubert, T., Friedmann, F., & Regenbrecht, H. (2001) · Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments · doi:10.1162/105474601300343603 · Cited by 2,303
Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion
Keltner, D. J., & Haidt, J. (2003) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699930302297 · Cited by 2,059
Scientific method: Statistical errors
Nuzzo, R. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/506150a · Cited by 1,536
Algoe, S. B., & Haidt, J. (2009) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760802650519 · Cited by 1,475
Mixtures of g Priors for Bayesian Variable Selection
Liang, F., Paulo, R., Molina, G., Clyde, M. A., & Berger, J. (2008) · Journal of the American Statistical Association · doi:10.1198/016214507000001337 · Cited by 1,308
Lewis, M. D., Haviland-Jones, J. M., & Barrett, L. F. (2000) · Cited by 1,304
Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior
Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/pspi0000018 · Cited by 1,214
Flagged first, then by citations
8 of the 89 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Cabin, 2000, To Bonferroni or not to Bonferroni: when and how are the questions., Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am., 81, 246
- Freeman, 2005, When presence and emotion are related, and when they are not., Paper Presented at the 8th Annual International Workshop on Presence
- Haidt, 2003, “The moral emotions,” in, Handbook of Affective Sciences, 852
- Lewis, 2010, Handbook of Emotions
- Waterworth, 2010, On feeling (the) present., J. Conscious. Stud., 17, 167
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–280 of 280
Shifts in implicit theories of creativity among undergraduates participating in a magic program
Li, T., Ding, L., & Zheng, H. (2024) · Thinking Skills and Creativity · doi:10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101501 · Cited by 2
Virtual Reality Exercise with Autonomy Support Increases Positive Affect During Time Trial Exercise
Moore, A. R., & Butler, B. A. S. (2024) · Games for Health Journal · doi:10.1089/g4h.2024.0157 · Cited by 1
Adjagbodjou, A. D., Iwase, C., Zhang, L., Pan, Y., Chung, A., & Kaufman, G. F. (2025) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/3706599.3719758 · Cited by 1
Steininger, M., Marquardt, A., Perusquía-Hernández, M., Lehnort, M., Otsubo, H., Dollack, F., Kruijff, E., Krüger, B., Kiyokawa, K., & Riecke, B. E. (2025) · Proceedings - International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality, ISMAR · doi:10.1109/ismar67309.2025.00132 · Cited by 1
Carissoli, C., Natale, A. F. D., Caravita, S. C. S., & Villani, D. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.100962 · Cited by 1
Carbone, F., Bondi, E., Pizzolante, M., Massalha, Y., Anastasi, A., Ferro, A., Schiena, G., Coelli, S., Bianchi, A. M., Gaggioli, A., et al. (2026) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.122075 · Cited by 1
Self-citationTrost, Z., Won, A. S., Boyapati, H. P. N., Costa, K., Davenport, J., D’Onofrio, G., Drager, L. R., Shum, P. C., Pierce, M. W., Fraenkel, L., et al. (2026) · JMIR XR and spatial computing. · doi:10.2196/84397 · Cited by 1
Escandón‐Barbosa, D., Salas-Paramo, J. A., & Paque, V. C. (2023) · Communitas · doi:10.38140/com.v28i.7272 · Cited by 4
Cui, X. (2025) · Science Communication · doi:10.1177/10755470251315951 · Cited by 1
Design Fundamentals that Elicit Emotions in Contextual Virtual Reality (VR) Environments
Gupta, H. K., Aishvarya, D., Kavan, P., Shanmugam, S., Bharti, P., Sharma, V., Elangovan, G., & Balasubramanyam, A. (2025) · International Conference on Virtual Reality · doi:10.1109/icvr66534.2025.11172488 · Cited by 1
Death reflection vs. death anxiety: Divergent paths to pro-sociality
Li, T.-Y., Mao, Y.-H., Liang, X.-Y., Jiang, C., & Sun, H.-Y. (2025) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2025.2607432 · Cited by 1
Guerriero, J. G., Sajjadi, P., Swim, J. K., Klippel, A., DeCoster, J., & Bagher, M. M. (2026) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2026.105575 · Cited by 1
The mind meets the museum: A psychology-based design framework for enhancing museum experiences
Pizzolante, M., Banzi, A., & Gaggioli, A. (2025) · Advanced Design Research · doi:10.1016/j.ijadr.2026.03.003 · Cited by 1
Self-citationPanoEmo, a set of affective 360-degree panoramas: a psychophysiological study
Kosonogov, V., Hajiyeva, G., & Zyabreva, I. (2023) · Virtual Reality · doi:10.1007/s10055-023-00900-1 · Cited by 1
Fragments of Fungi: Eliciting Dialogue Through a Virtual Experience
Pedersen, A., Nair, C. M., Jørgensen, M., Evangelista, S., Timčenko, O., & Nordahl, R. (2024) · Lecture notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-55312-7_6 · Cited by 1
Eliciting awe in the spectator: The case of a Dhrupad-based dance performance
Santarpia, A., Martin, A., Menicacci, A., Oliveira, P. D., Lemieux, D., Éthier, L., Charbonneau, C., Pucella, B., Flambard, C., Gundecha, L. F., et al. (2023) · International Journal of Transpersonal Studies · doi:10.24972/ijts.2022.41.2.48 · Cited by 1
Social Awe: A Mixed Methods Investigation
Pich, O. (2019) · NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives · Cited by 1
Virtual Reality Therapy for the Enhancement of Traditional Therapies for post-natal depression
Stamou, G. (2021) · Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya) · doi:10.6035/14109.2021.683002 · Cited by 1
Inducing the Overview Effect Using Virtual Reality
Le, N. Q. (2020) · doi:10.31979/etd.w7ay-ftpc · Cited by 1
Pratscher, S. D. (2020) · MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri) · doi:10.32469/10355/78090 · Cited by 1
INDUÇÃO DE HUMOR POR REALIDADE VIRTUAL
BERNARDO, P. D. (2019) · doi:10.17771/pucrio.acad.46847 · Cited by 1
Awe and the natural environment
Valdesolo, P. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-91497-0.00119-3 · Cited by 1
Chirico, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_30 · Cited by 1
Self-citationUrban, A. (2022) · MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri) · doi:10.32469/10355/94264 · Cited by 1
An eye to the future: Defining a framework for the VR tourism experience.
Gharibi, N. (2023) · Open Access Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka (Figshare) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.24188835 · Cited by 1
Fleming, W. H. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1701564
“Although such experiences are context-sensitive and not uniformly replicable, experimental and fi eld studies suggest that scaled or simulated awe stimuli can reliably elicit measurable shifts in self-perception and meaning (104, 105).”
Positive Artificial Intelligence Meets Affective Walkability
Bandini, S., Gasparini, F., & da Silva, F. S. C. (2022) · Intelligent systems reference library · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-11593-6_9
Gaggioli, A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_63
Self-citationJalbert, E., Lafortune, D., Lapointe, V. A., & Bonneau, J. (2024) · The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality · doi:10.3138/cjhs-2023-0040
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
(2024) · Tourism social science series · doi:10.1108/s1571-504320240000027032
Where Has the Awe in Medicine Gone? Part I
Baum, N. H. (2024) · Healthcare Administration Leadership & Management Journal · doi:10.55834/halmj.2449384397
Carbone, F., Bondi, E., Massalha, Y., Anastasi, A., Ferro, A., Pizzolante, M., Schiena, G., Bianchi, A. M., Gaggioli, A., Mazzocut-Mis, M., et al. (2024) · Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC) · doi:10.1109/embc53108.2024.10782046
Self-citationAyahuasca 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
The Politics of Consciousness and Immersive Media: An Integrative Review
Mirante, D. (2025) · Art&Sensorium · doi:10.33871/sensorium.2025.12.10951
Virtual reality can combat isolation with awe and empathy — on Earth and in space
Stepanova, K. (2021) · The Conversation · doi:10.64628/aam.vnjvrk7ex
Sonic Dimensions of Awe: A Review of Theories, Findings, and Experimental Approaches
Farzaneh, N., Berger, J., Murakami, E., & Gruzas, A. M. (2025) · Immersive and 3D Audio: from Architecture to Automotive (I3DA) · doi:10.1109/i3da65421.2025.11202094
EEG Power Analysis of an Emotionally Neutral VR Experience: What is Underneath?
Carbone, F., Bondi, E., Sarcinella, E. D., Pizzolante, M., Schiena, G., Torrente, Y., Bianchi, A. M., Mazzocut-Mis, M., Brambilla, P., & Maggioni, E. (2025) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05778-5_8
The Role of a VR Transformative Experience on Positive Emotions and Savoring: Preliminary Results
Pancini, E., Colombo, D., Folgado-Alufre, M., Morena, A., Bernardelli, L., Baños, R., & Villani, D. (2025) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05778-5_3
Mandolfo, M., Bettiga, D., Reali, P., Chirico, A., & Sarcinella, E. D. (2025) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05778-5_10
Self-citationVirtual Reality, Between Applications And Software For Use By Mental Health Professionalsd
(2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/979-8-88730-594-30251011
Chaney, C. (2020) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64802-133-620251037
The Impact of Multimodal Design in Virtual Reality on Mindfulness Experiences
Sheng, L., Zhang, Y., & Lyu, X. (2025) · ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing (SNPD) · doi:10.1109/snpd65828.2025.11254004
Oh, The Things You Don’t Know: Awe Promotes Awareness of Knowledge Gaps and Science InterestPreprint
Shtulman, A., & McPhetres, J. (2019) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Tadson, B., & Mädche, A. (2025) · Lecture notes in information systems and organisation · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-00815-2_24
Goates, T., Shiratuddin, M. F., Rai, S., & Wong, K. W. (2026) · Smart innovation, systems and technologies · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-10951-4_5
Self in relationships, nostalgically
Sedikides, C., Hepper, E. G., Yılmaz-Özdemir, İ., Abu‐Rayya, H. M., & Wildschut, T. (2026) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2026.2613847 · Cited by 1
Shahid, H., Khan, A., Ilyas, M., & Rasool, S. (2026) · Displays · doi:10.1016/j.displa.2026.103395
He, E. M., Suen, A. M. Y., Liu, P., Zuniga‐Hernandez, M., Feng, R., Gardner, K., Jackson, C., Rodríguez, S., Wang, E., & Caruso, T. J. (2026) · Games for Health Journal · doi:10.1177/2161783x261421429
Carbone, F., Maggioni, E., Chirico, A., & Bondi, E. (2026) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Self-citationThe Architecture of Awe: Experience, Disposition, and Meaning-Making in AutismPreprint
Srinivasan, H., Yaden, D. B., & Keltner, D. J. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9142343/v1
Liu, C.-Y., Hung, M.-Y., & Lin, J.-H. (2026) · Frontiers in Virtual Reality · doi:10.3389/frvir.2026.1780961
Yang, S. L., Gao, Y., Li, S., Zhang, W., Meng, H., Zhang, Z., & Zhang, T. T. (2026) · Environment Development and Sustainability · doi:10.1007/s10668-026-07527-7
Peters, J., Bujić, M., Roihankorpi, R., & Hamari, J. (2026) · Empirical Studies of the Arts · doi:10.1177/02762374261437049
Virtual journeys, real emotions: Investigating awe in VR tourism experiences
Gharibi, N., Yeoman, I., Reichenberger, I., & Ali, F. (2026) · Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights · doi:10.1016/j.annale.2026.100214
Capturing the Temporal Dynamics of Awe in VR: Using Retrospective Continuous Self-Report Method
Kim, M., & Ju, U. (2026) · IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW) · doi:10.1109/vrw70859.2026.00277
Sebastien, J., Zhu, J., Chirico, A., Mancuso, V., MARKS, A., Soffer, G., & Won, A. S. (2026) · Augmented Humans International Conference (AHs) · doi:10.1145/3795011.3795032
Self-citation認知的イノベーションとしてのOverview Effectの可能性
新垣, 紀., & 後藤, 悠. (2026) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)
The neurobiological basis of the awe experience in affective disorders: an exploratory EEG study
Bondi, E., Carbone, F., Schiena, G., Massalha, Y., Marra, M. P., Consoli, L. D., Mazzocut-Mis, M., Gaggioli, A., Chirico, A., Brambilla, P., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnsys.2026.1805778
Self-citationCui, X. (2026) · Journal of Science Communication · doi:10.22323/347420260322081637
Lin, J. T., Yang, J.-W., & Lee, Y.-H. (2026) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2026.2684290
VR Aesthetic Contributions in Transformative Experience Design (TED)
Giesteira, B., & Alves, T. (2026) · AHFE international · doi:10.54941/ahfe1007668
Does awe reduce academic procrastination? The role of future time perspective
Zheng, J. (2026) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2026.113980
Cerutti, A., Grilli, G., & Notaro, S. (2026) · Forest Policy and Economics · doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2026.103870 · Cited by 1
Redmond, D., Rooney, B., & Gallagher, P. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16071195
Who Composed This Piece? Emotions, Creativity and Perceptions in Human and AI-Generated MusicPreprint
Sarcinella, E. D., Forzato, A., Schiavio, A., & Chirico, A. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9465526/v1
Self-citationKrug, L., Henn, L., & Loy, L. S. (2026) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103186
Riswanto, R., Hartono, Sumarni, W., Subali, B., Rusilowati, A., & Hardyanto, W. (2026) · International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research · doi:10.26803/ijlter.25.8.35
Virtual Reality Induced Awe in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Mixed-Methods Study
Tillery, E., Kang, L. C., Shah, M., Raney, A. A., Won, A. S., Mancuso, V., Vorensky, M., Shum, C., & Trost, Z. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16091524
地球科学における没入型VRの活用 : ランドスライドのバーチャルフィールドワークによる研究と教育展開
ZULHILMI, A. A. M. (2025) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) · doi:10.14943/doctoral.k16568
Tomasi, J., Tiwari, A., Zai, C., Zai, G., Richter, M., Sanches, M., Lachman, R., Gaspar, C., Cella, M., Greer, B., et al. (2026) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2026.122508
Angra, S., Sharma, B., & Kumar, M. (2026) · SN Computer Science · doi:10.1007/s42979-026-05345-2
Gouthro, E. N., & MacInnis, C. C. (2026) · Comprehensive Results in Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/23743603.2026.2736454
Kazlauskaitė, R. (2026) · Convergence The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies · doi:10.1177/13548565261495904
Lu, H. (2026) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2026.101392
Lee, K. K. (2026) · Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play · doi:10.1145/3800965.3834480
From awe to emotional brand attachment: a cognitive appraisal perspective on VR brand experiences
Boccalini, S., Vernuccio, M., Patrizi, M., Zarantonello, L., & Pastore, A. (2026) · Journal of Product & Brand Management · doi:10.1108/jpbm-03-2026-6857
Metadata
- Authors
- Chirico, A., Ferrise, F., Cordella, L., & Gaggioli, A.
- Affiliations
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Politecnico di Milano (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Ferrise, Francesco
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2018-01-22
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 2351-2351
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5786556
- OpenAlex
- W2776596136
- Cited by
- 276
- References
- 89
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 8
- FWCI
- 22.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Virtual Community of Pathological Anatomy (University of Castilla La Mancha) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- PubliCatt (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Aesthetic Perception and Analysis
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Keywords
- awe, virtual reality, immersive virtual environments, presence, emotion induction, affect, virtual environment design
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
