Exploring the Formation Mechanism and Theoretical Structure of Awe among the Mongolian Ethnic Group: A Grounded Theory Study

The present study investigated the psychological mechanisms underlying the harmonious relationship between the Mongolian ethnic group and nature, with a specific focus on the emotion of awe. The objectives of this study were twofold: first, to examine the cultural and ecological background of Mongolian awe through historical documents, thereby providing theoretical sensitivity for the qualitative analysis; second, guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and using a grounded theory approach, to explore the psychological structural dimensions of awe among contemporary Mongolians through in-depth interviews and field observations with Mongolian university students and herder families, and to analyze how this structure reflects the traditional ecological cultural values of the Mongolian ethnic group and their survival adaptation strategies under nomadic production methods. Using a convenience sampling method, 95 Mongolian university students and 26 herder families participated in in-depth interviews. The data analysis generated 667 open codes and 21 axial codes, ultimately identifying five core dimensions: Deference to Sacred Authority, Divine Guardianship, Bio-reverence, Transcendent Becoming, and Harmonization with Natural Order. These five dimensions exhibit a progressive structure from external constraints to internal generation. Employing ecological systems theory, the study analyzed the relationships between awe, environmental connectedness, and cultural practices. The present study argues that Mongolian awe functions as a culturally evolved adaptation, manifested as a dynamically evolving, multi-faceted psychological construct.