Awe is a relatively less studied emotion and there has been no study examining its effect on the loss of material objects. As awe has been theoretically linked to experiences of vastness and spirituality, the present study proposes that awe helps individuals alleviate their negative affect towards possessions that have been lost. Study 1 manipulated awe and examined participants’ responses in an imagined situation in which they lost a cherished possession. Study 2 manipulated awe and happiness and compared their effects on participants’ response to an actual loss in the form of points obtained and deducted during a laboratory task. In Study 3, daily experiences of awe, other positive emotions, and affect in response to actual loss, were measured using event sampling. In all studies, awe predicted lower negative affect towards loss of possessions. Implications of awe as an alternative means for individuals to cope with loss and other future directions are discussed.

Key words: Awe, Material Possessions, Positive Emotions, Negative Affect.