The Emotional and Psychological Dimensions of the Experience of Awe

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1, 262 - 284, 15.03.2025

Esra İrk

https://doi.org/10.51702/esoguifd.1565827

Öz

Awe, as one of the self-transcendent emotions, is an intense emotional response elicited by extraordinary objects or events that challenges cognitive capacity. This fleeting and rare emotion is difficult to express accurately in everyday language. However, concepts such as grandeur, sublimity, sanctity, and transcendence are among the defining features of the awe experience. Theoretical approaches suggest that awe can have both positive and negative dimensions depending on specific evaluative processes. Awe is associated with emotions such as wonder, admiration, appreciation, curiosity, humility, fear, and unease, but it represents a more encompassing, intense, and profound state of consciousness than these emotions. Triggered by diverse stimuli such as natural beauty, compelling works of art, religious or spiritual experiences, or the vastness of space, awe is characterized by concepts like uncertainty, mystery, connection, vastness, and accommodation. Uncertainty and mystery encourage individuals to transcend rational thought, while vastness and accommodation symbolize a sense of boundlessness and wholeness, allowing individuals to perceive themselves as part of a greater order. Thus, awe enhances existential awareness and fosters a holistic perspective by helping individuals relate themselves to a larger whole rather than adopting a fragmented approach. On one hand, it nurtures feelings of love and humility; on the other hand, it strengthens self-esteem and a sense of belonging. Awe is a dynamic and multifaceted experience in which the mind, heart, senses, and other cognitive faculties operate in harmony. This experience facilitates the enactment of intermediary emotions, qualities, and values that contribute to living in harmony with oneself and others. On a societal level, awe influences individuals to act in accordance with spiritual values and cultural norms. In this context, awe can be seen as an experience that enables individuals to attain a broader consciousness of existence and shape their behavioral norms accordingly. Considering its effects on an individual’s relationship with themselves, their environment, and the universe, it is essential to evaluate awe in a broader context and understand its potential benefits more comprehensively. This article aims to examine and analyze the experience of awe in depth. It addresses the nature and scope of awe, identifying its similarities and differences with related emotions. Additionally, the psychological and social impacts of awe are explored in detail. Given that only a limited number of studies have focused on awe from these perspectives, this study is expected to contribute uniquely to the relevant literature. Through a documentation-based methodology, the study concludes that awe is a multidimensional emotion that transforms individuals’ perceptions of themselves and the world. Awe opens individuals to existential questions, searches for meaning, and spiritual experiences, providing them with a strong sense of awareness and depth. In this respect, it transcends a mere emotional reaction and represents an active cognitive process, enabling mental depth and richness. Furthermore, awe activates constructive mechanisms, enhancing individuals’ ability to cope with negative emotional states such as anxiety, depression, and stress. From these observations, awe can be characterized as a powerful and effective experience that leads to expansion and openings on various levels.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Psychology of Religion, Awe, Admiration, Appreciation, Mental Health

Etik Beyan

This study does not require ethics committee approval, as the data used were obtained from literature review/published sources. It is declared that scientific and ethical principles have been followed while carrying out and writing this study and that all the sources used have been properly cited.

Destekleyen Kurum

The author acknowledges that she received no external funding in support of this research.

Huşû Deneyiminin Duygusal ve Psikolojik Boyutları

Öz

Aşkın duygulardan biri olan huşû, bilişsel kapasiteyi zorlayan olağanüstü bir nesne veya olay karşısında açığa çıkan yoğun duygusal tepkidir. Kısa süreli ve nadir yaşanan bu duygunun günlük dilde tam anlamıyla ifade edilmesi mümkün değildir. Bununla birlikte, büyüklük, yücelik, kutsallık, aşkınlık gibi kavramlar, huşû deneyiminin ayırt edici unsurları arasında yer almaktadır. Kuramsal yaklaşımlar, huşûnun belirli değerlendirme süreçlerine bağlı olarak olumlu ya da olumsuz yönler taşıyabileceğini öne sürmektedir. Hayret, hayranlık, takdir etme, merak, alçakgönüllülük, korku, tedirginlik gibi duygularla ilişkili olan huşû, bu duygulardan daha kapsayıcı, yoğun ve derin bir bilinç durumunu ifade etmektedir. Doğal güzellikler, etkileyici sanat eserleri, dinî/manevî yaşantılar veya uzayın genişliği gibi çeşitli durumlar tarafından tetiklenen bu deneyim; belirsizlik, bilinmezlik, bağlılık, genişlik ve uyum kavramlarıyla karakterize edilmektedir. Belirsizlik ve bilinmezlik, bireyi rasyonel düşünmenin ötesine geçmeye teşvik ederken; genişlik ve uyum, sınırsızlık ve bütünlük hissini sembolize ederek bireyin kendisini büyük varlık düzeni içinde algılamasına izin vermektedir. Böylece huşû, bireyin varoluşsal farkındalığını artırıp kendisini daha büyük bir bütünle ilişkilendirmesine olanak sağlayarak parçacı bir yaklaşım yerine holistik bir bakış açısını mümkün kılmaktadır. Bir yandan bireyin sevgi ve alçakgönüllülük duygularını beslerken, diğer yandan benlik saygısını ve aidiyet hissini güçlendirmektedir. Huşû; akıl, kalp, duyular ve diğer bilişsel araçların bir bütün hâlinde işlediği dinamik ve çok yönlü bir deneyimdir. Bu deneyim, bireyin kendisiyle ve diğeriyle ahenk ve uyum içinde bir yaşantı sürmesine katkı sağlayacak aracı duyguların, niteliklerin ve değerlerin edimine yardımcı olmaktadır. Toplumsal düzlemde ise bireylerin manevî değerlere ve kültürel normlara uygun davranışlarını etkilemektedir. Bu bağlamda huşû, bireyin daha geniş bir varlık bilincine ulaşmasına ve davranış normlarını bu bilinç doğrultusunda şekillendirmesine olanak tanıyan bir deneyim olarak görülebilir. Dolayısıyla bireyin kendisiyle, çevresiyle ve evrenle olan ilişkisi üzerindeki etkisi göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, huşûnun daha geniş bir çerçevede değerlendirilmesinin ve potansiyel faydalarının daha iyi anlaşılmasının önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu makalenin amacı, huşû deneyimini derinlemesine incelemek ve analiz etmektir. Bu doğrultuda çalışmada, huşûnun doğası ve kapsamı ele alınmış; yakından ilişkili olduğu duygularla benzerlik ve farklılık gösteren yönleri tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca huşûnun psikolojik ve toplumsal etkileri ayrıntılı bir şekilde incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın, huşû deneyimini bu yönleriyle ele alan az sayıdaki çalışmalardan biri olması sebebiyle, ilgili literatüre özgün bir katkı sunması beklenmektedir. Dokümantasyon yöntemiyle yürütülen bu çalışmada, huşû deneyiminin bireylerin kendilerini ve dünyayı algılama biçimlerinde değişimlere yol açan çok boyutlu bir duygu olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Huşû, bireyleri varoluşsal sorulara, anlam arayışlarına ve manevî deneyimlere açık hâle getirerek onlara güçlü bir farkındalık ve derinlik kazandırmaya yönelik motivasyon sağlamaktadır. Bu yönüyle, basit bir duygusal tepki olmanın ötesinde aktif bir kavrayış sürecini ifade etmekte; zihnî derinlik ve zenginliğe imkân tanımaktadır. Huşû, aynı zamanda, yapıcı mekanizmaların harekete geçmesini sağlayarak bireylerin kaygı, depresyon, stres gibi olumsuz ruh halleriyle başa çıkma kapasitesini artırmaktadır. Tüm bunlardan hareketle, huşûyu çeşitli düzlemlerde genişleme ve açılımlara yol açan güçlü ve etkili bir deneyim olarak nitelendirmek mümkündür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Din Psikolojisi, Huşû, Hayranlık, Takdir Etme, Ruh Sağlığı

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma, etik kurul izni gerektirmeyen nitelikte olup kullanılan veriler literatür taraması/yayınlanmış kaynaklar üzerinden elde edilmiştir. Çalışmanın hazırlanma sürecinde bilimsel ve etik ilkelere uyulduğu ve yararlanılan tüm çalışmaların kaynakçada belirtildiği beyan olunur.

Destekleyen Kurum

Bu araştırmayı desteklemek için dış fon kullanılmamıştır.

Kaynakça

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