Fostering Prosocial Behaviours Against Infectious Diseases Through Awe: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how experiencing awe influences adults' willingness to engage in prosocial preventive behaviors against infectious diseases. This randomized controlled trial includes adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China. The study aims to find out if feeling awe can increase intentions for actions like vaccination, mask-wearing, and social distancing, and whether these effects differ by location. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will play a three-step mini game called Hidden Picture Puzzle designed to induce awe by revealing nature scenes and reflecting on feelings evoked. The control group will play the same game format but will uncover everyday objects and describe their features instead. Each participant will complete four rounds of the game with different images. During the study, participants will complete the game and immediately report their intentions to engage in preventive behaviors and their choices in pandemic-related scenarios. The study will also assess intentions to participate in social activities after the game. The trial is conducted online, and participants had a baseline assessment about four months before the trial. The research team will monitor responses immediately after the game to measure the impact of awe on prosocial behavior.

Fostering Prosocial Preventive Behaviours Through Awe