Association Between the Creative Experience of Haiku Poetry and a Tendency Toward Self-Transcendent Emotions

Abstract

Haiku is the world's shortest form of poetry, describing nature and ordinary everyday life. Previous studies and quotes from professional haiku poets suggest that haiku can foster self-transcendent emotions, such as gratitude and awe. This study compares how those who did and did not create at least one haiku in the past month experience self-transcendent emotions. A total of 192 haiku writers and 177 non-writers responded to scales related to self-transcendent emotions, such as gratitude for serenity, gratitude trait, and trait awe. The results of the Bayesian implementation of Generalized Linear Mixed models revealed that haiku writing increased the frequency of gratitude for serenity and awe, rather than general gratitude. These effects persisted even after controlling for interest in art and educational level, indicating that haiku writing has unique characteristics, including encouragement of attention to nature and a different perspective on daily life. Even in the absence of special events, a change in perspective toward everyday life occurs through creating haiku, and people appreciate and feel awe toward ordinary, everyday things. These novel findings contribute to the study of creativity and emotion.