Humans may have evolved to appreciate awe-inspiring experiences. To shed light on its origin, four studies (three preregistered) examined 4-9-year-old children’s (N = 301) perceptions of awe-inspiring experiences. Children recognized vast nature as an elicitor of awe facial expression and reported mixed emotions in response to awe experiences (Study 1). Both positive (Study 2) and threatening (Study 3) awe experiences were more likely than neutral experiences to promote perceived vastness, motivation to explore, and awareness of unknown things. Compared to crowd experiences, awe experiences elicited more of these effects and positively affected children’s sense of self (Study 4). These findings suggest that awe experiences are appreciated early in life, shedding light on the origin and nature of this important self-transcendent experience.
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