Glossary // Glossary term Theoretical
Self-transcendent emotions
A proposed category of positive emotions, such as compassion, gratitude, awe and elevation, that shift attention away from the self towards other people or something larger. Reviews argue that they share a reduced self-focus and promote prosocial behaviour and group coordination. The category is a theoretical grouping; how distinct these emotions are from other positive states, and whether they share specific physiology, remain open questions. What moving in time with others does to people: evidence that synchrony increases affiliation and cooperation, that group dance raises pain thresholds, and that musical peaks engage the brain's reward system. The works the definition rests on, with the level of evidence each was appraised at. (2017). Self-transcendent emotions and their social functions: Compassion, gratitude, and awe bind us to others through prosociality. doi:10.1177/1754073916684557 Supports the description of self-transcendent emotions as a proposed category linked to prosociality and group coordination. Narrative review with evolutionary proposals that remain to be tested. (2022). Emotional processes, collective behavior, and social movements: A meta-analytic review of collective effervescence outcomes during collective gatherings and demonstrations. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.974683 Supports the claim that collective effervescence is associated with self-transcendent emotions, group identity, social integration, wellbeing and collective efficacy. The pooled studies are mainly correlational, so associations are not evidence that gatherings cause these outcomes.Where the site uses it
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