What does it mean to feel small? Three dimensions of the small self. Issue 4 (19th May 2022) - Tyson, Courtney
ABSTRACT: Despite growing interest in the "small self", there is little clarity about what it means and how it should be measured. Three studies ( N =922) identified three constructs: (1) self-size (metaphorical experiences of smallness), (2) vastness relative to the self (feeling the presence of something bigger than the self) and (3) self-perspective (feeling as though one's day-to-day concerns are trivial in the big picture). Each dimension had a distinct psychological signature: self-perspective was associated with less ethical decision-making, perceived self-size shared negative correlations with self-esteem and collective identification, and vastness relative to the self was associated with high levels of self-esteem and collective identification. The data suggest that awareness of vaster forces represents psychological expansion (rather than shrinking) of the self.