WC142 MayJune 2025 - Magazine - Page 38
H2OPINION
Still Waters Run Deep
social connectivity. Small-self is not inherently threatening,
but consider how you might feel to actually see or experience
a tsunami. This threatening awe does not seem to carry the
How emotions in decision-making protects
same benefits as positive awe. Connecting back to water
Canada’s water
protection and pro-environmental behaviours, fear (or, more
specifically, mortality reminders) can increase environmental
BY AVERY DEBOER-SMITH, LAUREN K.M. SMITH, AND SARAH E. WOLFE
beliefs among those who identify as environmental—but not
MAGINE A CLEAR STREAM running through mounfor those who do not already value environmental action.
tains or the ocean’s distant horizon as gentle waves lap
Climate communicators have found fear-based climate
at your feet. How does that image make you feel? Most
messaging to be ineffective for increasing climate action.
likely, you’d describe feeling awe.
Neither threatening awe nor communicating fearful aspects
Awe is an incredibly unique emotion, experienced and
of environmental problems seems effective for encouraging
expressed similarly worldwide: goosebumps, widened eyes, a
responsible water decisions.
sense of vastness, and adjustments to our worldviews. Awe is
Some may argue that water policy and usage decisions are
strictly rational choices. Yet any policy debate or
decision-making boardroom reveals emotions
“Awe often evokes “small-self” feelings, where we realize
indeed abound. Research findings on emotions
and policy further support the assertion that
how vast the world really is and, in response, may increase
feelings are involved in these discussions, despite
social connectivity.”
pushing against normative assumptions about
how policymaking should happen. And emotions
also self-transcendent, evoking connection with something
in policy or challenging decisions are not all-around bad.
greater than the self. It triggers greater curiosity, generosity,
Positive emotions have frequently led to greater prosocial
and patience.
behaviours: actions that help others. When making water
Awe has significant potential to encourage pro-envimanagement decisions, it is essential to consider all involved
ronmental behaviour and attitudes. Our lab systematically
users, including nature. Awe will be crucial for this task.
reviewed awe and pro-environmental behaviour research; 93
If our goal is greater water protection and more environper cent of studies showed that awe increased participants’
mentally responsible water decisions, our water professionals
pro-environmental behaviour.
need more positive awe experiences. Given nature-based awe’s
Our latest research extends these findings by exploring
potency, especially from water-related views and activities,
awe’s influence on Canadian water professionals’ (n=54) workensuring water professionals spend time by the actual lakes,
place decision-making. Consistent with earlier findings, our
rivers, oceans, and waterways they protect is particularly powrespondents reported that awe most influenced how they felt
erful. In our study, water professionals reported spending just
about protecting natural environments (and that they felt the
6 per cent of work time in the field pre-COVID-19 and 4
greatest awe from water scenes and activities). Water, it seems,
per cent during the pandemic. Incorporating daily awe walks
evokes a very special kind of awe. Experiencing awe may help
— as close to water as possible — could be one way to help
water decision-makers engage in and commit to environmenincrease awe in our lives and those of water professionals.
tally protective choices, even when those choices are difficult.
No matter how awe exposure is obtained, it is clear that
But what about the fear that sometimes accompanies awe?
the benefits from this emotion — greater cooperation,
Awe descriptions and experiences sometimes feature fearful elpatience, well-being, gratitude, connection, environmental
ements. Awe often evokes “small-self” feelings, where we realprotection — are needed by, and influential for, water profesize how vast the world really is and, in response, may increase
sionals and sustainable water policy decisions.
I
Lauren K. M. Smith (she/they) is
a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at
Royal Roads University examining
how emotions influence paid and
unpaid planetary care work.
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WATER C AN ADA • M AY/JUNE 2025
Sarah Elizabeth Wolfe (PhD)
is a Professor in the School of
Environment and Sustainability
at Royal Roads University.
Avery Deboer-Smith (she/her)
completed her SSHRC supported
Master’s in Environment and
Management at Royal Roads
University (2024).
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
