Assessing the Experience of Awe: Validating the Situational Awe Scale

We introduce the Situational Awe Scale (SAS), a self-report measure to assess the momentary, phenomenological experience of awe. An exploratory factor analysis in Study 1 suggested a four-factor structure (connection, oppression, chills, and diminished self), and provided initial evidence of the measure’s convergent and criterion validity. Study 2 provided evidence for the structural validity of the SAS by confirming the factor structure uncovered in Study 1, and replicated the convergent and criterion validity evidence. Study 3 established that the SAS truly assesses situational awe by demonstrating that SAS scores varied in response to situations that elicit more versus less awe. Finally, Study 4 extended the evidence for the convergent and criterion validity of the SAS to a field setting (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago). Across four studies, we constructed and validated the SAS, laying the groundwork for fruitful future investigation into the determinants and outcomes of awe.