Home Institution
Carleton College
Publication Date
Fall 2023
Abstract
Awe is a complex emotion and a relatively new field of psychological study. Previous studies have looked at the benefits of spending time in nature including spurring environmental action, and how awe is felt in nature. In this study, I investigate the connection between these two ideas by addressing the questions of how Awe is experienced in the Northern Rivers region of Australia, and whether small and big moments of awe motivate people to take environmental action and connect them to their community and the natural world. For this study, I conducted 15 interviews, collected 51 surveys, and personally explored and journaled about awe (37.5 hours of exploration; 8.75 hours of journaling). Awe in nature was a near universal experience for participants in both dramatic moments and more accessible “day-to-day” moments. Awe appears to be a potential motivator for environmental action by promoting wellbeing and resilience that allows for sustained engagement and increasing a sense of connection to community and nature. While future studies are needed to confirm these results, this initial research suggests that awe has positive effects on people that, at a minimum, allow for positive engagement in environmental action, and may motivate participation as well.
Disciplines
Australian Studies | Environmental Studies | Human Ecology | Multicultural Psychology | Place and Environment | Sustainability
Recommended Citation
Shriner, Ella, "The Experience of Awe in Nature and its Implications for Sustainability" (2023). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 3755.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3755
Included in
Australian Studies Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Human Ecology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Sustainability Commons
Program Name
Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action