Fidelity with self-transcendent values is hailed as a hallmark of mature and magnanimous character by classic psychological and philosophical theories. Dozens of contemporary experiments inspired by self-affirmation theory have also found that when people are under threat, focus on self-transcendent values can confer magnanimity by improving psychological buoyancy (less anxious and more courageous, determined, and effective) and decreasing belligerence (less defensive, extreme, and hostile). The present research was guided by the postulate that both aspects of magnanimity—its buoyancy and its freedom from belligerence—arise from the approach motivated states that self-transcendent foci can inspire. Experimental manipulations of self-transcendent foci (values, spirituality, compassion) heightened state approach motivation as assessed by electroencephalography (Study 1, n = 187) and self-report (Study 2, n = 490). Further, even though the heightened approach motivation was transient, it mediated a longer-lasting freedom from moral (Study 1) and religious (Study 2) belligerence. Importantly, self-transcendent-focus effects on approach motivation and belligerence occurred only among participants with high trait meaning search scores. Results support an interpretation of meaningful values and spiritual ideals as self-transcendent priorities that operate according to basic motivational mechanics of abstract-goal pursuit. The transient, approach-motivated state aroused by transcendence-focus causes longer lasting relief from preoccupation with threat, leaving people feeling buoyant and generous. Relevance of results for self-affirmation theory and the psychology of spirituality are discussed.

忠于自我超越的价值观，被经典的心理学和哲学理论誉为成熟和宽宏大量的性格标志。受自我肯定理论启发的许多当代实验也发现，当人们受到威胁时，专注于自我超越的价值观可以通过提高心理活力（减少焦虑，更加勇敢、坚定和有效）和减少好斗（减少防御性的、极端的和敌对的）。本研究的指导假设是，宽宏大量的两个方面——它的浮力和它从好战中的自由——来自于自我超越的焦点可以激发的方法动机状态。对自我超越焦点（价值观、灵性、n  = 187）和自我报告（研究 2，n = 490)。此外，尽管提高的接近动机是短暂的，但它介导了一种更持久的免于道德（研究 1）和宗教（研究 2）好战的自由。重要的是，自我超越焦点对接近动机和好战性的影响仅发生在具有高特质意义搜索分数的参与者中。结果支持将有意义的价值观和精神理想解释为根据抽象目标追求的基本动机机制运作的自我超越优先事项。由超越焦点引起的短暂的、接近动机的状态可以使人们更持久地摆脱对威胁的关注，让人们感到充满活力和慷慨。讨论了结果与自我肯定理论和灵性心理学的相关性。