Why Your Brain Needs Awe and Wonder with Dr. Dacher Keltner

When was the last time you felt absolutely mesmerized by something beautiful? Whether it’s seeing a breathtaking vista, losing yourself in a piece of music, or being in a crowd cheering for the same team, the feeling of awe can be all-encompassing and expansive. This week on Science of Perception Box, Dr. Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists and a scientific advisor behind Pixar’s Inside Out, shares how we can cultivate more awe in our life and why we need this sometimes overlooked emotion.

Dr. Keltner is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, and The Power Paradox. Dr. Keltner is involved with the education of health care providers and judges and has consulted extensively for Google, Apple, and Pinterest on issues related to emotion and well-being.


Dr. Heather Berlin is a neuroscientist, clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School Of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.


Dr. Christof Koch is Chief Scientist for The Tiny Blue Dot Foundation as well as the current Meritorious investigator and Former President of the Allen Institute For Brain Science.


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Episode Chapters:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:35) - Exploring the Concept of Awe
(02:33) - Personal Experiences of Awe
(04:05) - Defining and Studying Awe
(05:00) - Awe Across Cultures
(07:02) - Physiological and Emotional Aspects of Awe
(12:34) - Awe in Animals and Evolution
(16:34) - Awe and Mental Health
(20:31) - Babies in Tunnels: A Surprising Reaction
(21:10) - The Role of Novelty in Experiencing Awe
(22:29) - Cynicism vs. Awe: A Battle of Perspectives
(23:29) - Digital Technology and Artificial Awe
(24:27) - Awe and PTSD: Healing Through Nature
(27:16) - The Complexity of Awe: Positive and Negative Emotions
(31:30) - Finding Awe in Everyday Life
(34:37) - The Power of Awe in Difficult Times
(37:38) - Final Thoughts and Reflections