What does it mean to feel small? Three dimensions of the small self

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.