Happiness May Open Minds More Than Awe, Study Finds

October 14, 2026 - 22:58

Researchers looking for ways to increase openness to diversity tested whether awe could shift attitudes. The results surprised them. In a study involving nearly 3,200 adults, a brief happy video produced a small but measurable move toward more inclusive views. Awe, the emotion they originally favored, showed no effect at all.

The finding challenges a common assumption in psychology. Awe is often described as an emotion that shrinks the self and expands perspective, which should theoretically reduce bias. But when put to a direct test, it did not deliver. Happiness, by contrast, appeared to soften attitudes in a modest way.

The study does not claim that a short video can solve deep social divisions. The shift was small, and attitudes measured right after watching may not last. Still, the pattern matters. It suggests that positive emotions like joy may prepare people to engage with difference more than feelings of vastness or wonder.

Researchers say the next step is understanding why happiness works and awe does not. One possibility is that happiness feels social and approach oriented, while awe can feel distant or overwhelming. For now, the takeaway is simple. If the goal is openness, a little joy may go further than a grand sense of awe.