The Curious Case of Threat-Awe: A Theoretical and Empirical Reconceptualization

Threat-based awe, or threat-awe, has been conceptualized as a fear-centric, negative-valenced variant of awe, although awe is a positive emotion embodying wonder and amazement. This research, however, argues that threat-awe is a mixed emotion rather than a negatively valenced subaspect of awe. We tested this conceptualization using two methodologies: (a) the theoretical framework of cognitive appraisals and (b) measures of ambivalence (an emotion co-occurrence index of bivalence, the Evaluative Space Grid, and a four-item scale to measure mixed emotions). Five studies (N = 1,140) compared threat-awe's appraisal profile and valence perceptions to univalenced, positive (awe, pride, happiness) and negative (fear) emotions. Research suggests that appraisal profiles of mixed emotions are close to their component emotions but distinct on certain appraisal dimensions. The empirical measures of valence demonstrate that threat-awe is felt as awe and fear in concert. Further, in terms of appraisals, threat-awe's appraisal profile is distinct from awe and fear on the dimensions of vastness, pleasantness, and situational control. Together, the two approaches-cognitive appraisals and measures of valence-provide convergent evidence that threat-awe is a mixed emotion. In conceptually clarifying threat-awe, we contribute to the nascent literature on mixed emotions.