Abstract: The psychology of being moved (感动), characterized as a passive and involuntary emotional state triggered by external stimuli, has garnered increasing academic interest for its profound social and psychological implications. This study aims to systematically explore the attributes and eliciting mechanisms of the emotion, building on evidence from diverse methodological perspectives, including questionnaires, experimental studies, cognitive neuroscience, and cross-cultural research. By synthesizing findings, it examines the subjective experiences, physiological responses, and key factors involved in eliciting the emotion, as well as their interconnections. Furthermore, the research highlights the broader implications of being moved, particularly its role in fostering personal growth, enhancing social cohesion, and contributing to societal governance.
The study identifies the primary emotional attributes of being moved through self-reported studies, indicating that chills, tears, and a sense of warmth in the chest area are common subjective experiences. These subjective feelings often correspond to physiological responses involving both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Chills, frequently accompanied by goosebumps, are linked to increased heart rate and heightened skin conductance, reflecting arousal mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. In contrast, tears are associated with parasympathetic activity, inducing a state of physiological calmness. The co-occurrence of chills and tears during emotional arousal represents a unique interplay of both nervous systems, underpinning the distinctiveness of being moved. Additionally, subjective warmth in the chest may reflect metaphorical expressions of positive emotional states, potentially associated with vagus nerve activation.
The paper further investigates the theoretical underpinnings of the emotion, employing three primary frameworks: relational models theory, attachment theory, and core values theory. Relational models theory posits that being moved arises from the sudden strengthening of communal relationships, as supported by empirical evidence linking the emotion to heightened social connections. Attachment theory extends this perspective by suggesting that the emotion is evolutionarily rooted in attachment mechanisms that enhance social bonds and prosocial behaviors. Furthermore, the extended attachment hypothesis highlights the role of “dearness,” wherein individuals perceive significance in abstract entities, such as art or moral values, as an extension of attachment processes. Core values theory, meanwhile, situates being moved within the context of universal moral and aesthetic principles, emphasizing the role of self-transcendence and meaningfulness. Events or experiences that instantiate core values such as friendship, peace, or beauty are particularly potent in evoking the emotion, providing a broader explanatory framework that integrates relational and attachment perspectives.
Cross-cultural studies reveal significant variability in the elicitation and expression of being moved across different societies. In collectivist cultures such as China, the emotion is often elicited by acts of altruism, moral integrity, or self-sacrifice, emphasizing the individual’s role within the collective. Conversely, in individualistic Western cultures, being moved frequently arises from personal achievement, struggle, or resistance, highlighting its motivational and transformative dimensions. These findings underscore the importance of cultural context in shaping the triggers, expressions, and functions of the emotion, calling for further cross-cultural investigations to examine its universality and cultural specificity.
The paper emphasizes the broader implications of being moved, noting its capacity to enhance prosocial behaviors, strengthen social bonds, and foster a sense of moral and cultural identity. Experimental evidence suggests that experiences of being moved can promote empathy, reduce prejudice, and even inspire pro-environmental behaviors. On an individual level, the emotion serves as a reflective state, enabling personal growth and shifts in cognitive frameworks. Adolescents’ emotional experiences of being moved, for example, may play a critical role in shaping identity development and emotional resilience. On a societal level, the emotion can be strategically utilized in public policy, education, and media to reinforce shared values, foster social cohesion, and enhance collective well-being.
In conclusion, the psychology of being moved represents a complex interplay of emotional, physiological, and social mechanisms, deeply embedded in cultural contexts and evolutionary processes. Future research should prioritize experimental designs that explore the causality between cognitive appraisals and physiological responses, leveraging advanced neuroscientific tools such as fMRI and EEG to track dynamic changes in neural activity. Additionally, investigating individual differences in emotional sensitivity and empathy may offer valuable insights into personalized interventions. Finally, the cross-cultural dimensions of being moved remain an essential avenue for exploration, with implications for fostering global understanding and collaboration. By advancing theoretical and empirical knowledge, research on being moved can provide a robust foundation for practical applications, enhancing personal development and societal governance.

Key words: cooperative behavior, rationality, irrationality, bounded rationality

摘要： 感动是一种由外部刺激引发的非自主性、即时产生的情感状态,通常由强烈的事件触发。感动体验包括寒战、流泪和内心温暖等一系列主观感受,背后可能涉及交感神经系统与副交感神经系统的交替激活。目前,研究者主要从公共共享关系的增强、依恋情感的作用以及核心价值观的凸显三个方面阐释感动的产生。未来研究可进一步探讨感动情感的生成机制,提供更直接的实证证据,并关注其文化差异及其在个人成长与社会治理中的应用。

关键词: 感动, 公共共享关系, 依恋, 核心价值观