Back to the future: nostalgia increases optimism
Back to the future: nostalgia increases optimism
This research examined the proposition that nostalgia is not simply a past-oriented emotion, but its scope extends into the future, and, in particular, a positive future. We adopted a convergent validation approach, using multiple methods to assess the relation between nostalgia and optimism. Study 1 tested whether nostalgic narratives entail traces of optimism; indeed, nostalgic (compared with ordinary) narratives contained more expressions of optimism. Study 2 manipulated nostalgia through the recollection of nostalgic (vs. ordinary) events, and showed that nostalgia boosts optimism. Study 3 demonstrated that the effect of nostalgia (induced with nomothetically relevant songs) on optimism is mediated by self-esteem. Finally, Study 4 established that nostalgia (induced with idiographically relevant lyrics) fosters social connectedness, which subsequently increases self-esteem, which then boosts optimism. The nostalgic experience is inherently optimistic and paints a subjectively rosier future.
nostalgia, optimism, emotion, memory, self-esteem, social connectedness
1484-1496
Cheung, Wing-Yee
7a3c3949-2468-466a-946b-f629f1ce07f4
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Hepper, Erica G.
fe969931-cea2-4781-a474-d41a89b213ae
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
67bb57de-107b-4515-9817-7d9a083e1238
November 2013
Cheung, Wing-Yee
7a3c3949-2468-466a-946b-f629f1ce07f4
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Hepper, Erica G.
fe969931-cea2-4781-a474-d41a89b213ae
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
67bb57de-107b-4515-9817-7d9a083e1238
Cheung, Wing-Yee, Wildschut, Tim, Sedikides, Constantine, Hepper, Erica G., Arndt, Jamie and Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
(2013)
Back to the future: nostalgia increases optimism.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39 (11), .
(doi:10.1177/0146167213499187).
(PMID:23928397)
Abstract
This research examined the proposition that nostalgia is not simply a past-oriented emotion, but its scope extends into the future, and, in particular, a positive future. We adopted a convergent validation approach, using multiple methods to assess the relation between nostalgia and optimism. Study 1 tested whether nostalgic narratives entail traces of optimism; indeed, nostalgic (compared with ordinary) narratives contained more expressions of optimism. Study 2 manipulated nostalgia through the recollection of nostalgic (vs. ordinary) events, and showed that nostalgia boosts optimism. Study 3 demonstrated that the effect of nostalgia (induced with nomothetically relevant songs) on optimism is mediated by self-esteem. Finally, Study 4 established that nostalgia (induced with idiographically relevant lyrics) fosters social connectedness, which subsequently increases self-esteem, which then boosts optimism. The nostalgic experience is inherently optimistic and paints a subjectively rosier future.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 8 August 2013
Published date: November 2013
Keywords:
nostalgia, optimism, emotion, memory, self-esteem, social connectedness
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 357467
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/357467
ISSN: 0146-1672
PURE UUID: 27a02899-357e-4ea7-8c6a-489630a14ee5
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Date deposited: 08 Oct 2013 12:31
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:10
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Author:
Jamie Arndt
Author:
Ad J.J.M. Vingerhoets
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