The mnemonic mover: nostalgia regulates avoidance and approach motivation
The mnemonic mover: nostalgia regulates avoidance and approach motivation
In light of its role in maintaining psychological equanimity, we proposed that nostalgia—a self-relevant, social, and predominantly positive emotion—regulates avoidance and approach motivation. We advanced a model in which (a) avoidance motivation triggers nostalgia and (b) nostalgia, in turn, increases approach motivation. As a result, nostalgia counteracts the negative impact of avoidance motivation on approach motivation. Five methodologically diverse studies supported this regulatory model. Study 1 used a cross-sectional design and showed that avoidance motivation was positively associated with nostalgia. Nostalgia, in turn, was positively associated with approach motivation. In Study 2, an experimental induction of avoidance motivation increased nostalgia. Nostalgia then predicted increased approach motivation. Studies 3–5 tested the causal effect of nostalgia on approach motivation and behavior. These studies demonstrated that experimental nostalgia inductions strengthened approach motivation (Study 3) and approach behavior as manifested in reduced seating distance (Study 4) and increased helping (Study 5). The findings shed light on nostalgia’s role in regulating the human motivation system.
nostalgia, nostalgia proneness, avoidance motivation, approach motivation, self-regulation
545-561
Stephan, Elena
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Wildschut, Tim
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Sedikides, Constantine
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Zhou, Xinyue
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He, Wuming
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Routledge, Clay
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Cheung, Wing-Yee
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Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
67bb57de-107b-4515-9817-7d9a083e1238
June 2014
Stephan, Elena
4d379020-be54-4a1c-848a-9b61923648d2
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Zhou, Xinyue
71499fe7-f78c-4787-939a-df0ce0efeb92
He, Wuming
86c86a8b-f448-44e5-86ac-4ef845ebc281
Routledge, Clay
c1e0088a-3cc4-4d54-bbd3-de7d286429d8
Cheung, Wing-Yee
7a3c3949-2468-466a-946b-f629f1ce07f4
Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
67bb57de-107b-4515-9817-7d9a083e1238
Stephan, Elena, Wildschut, Tim, Sedikides, Constantine, Zhou, Xinyue, He, Wuming, Routledge, Clay, Cheung, Wing-Yee and Vingerhoets, Ad J.J.M.
(2014)
The mnemonic mover: nostalgia regulates avoidance and approach motivation.
Emotion, 14 (3), .
(doi:10.1037/a0035673).
(PMID:24708500)
Abstract
In light of its role in maintaining psychological equanimity, we proposed that nostalgia—a self-relevant, social, and predominantly positive emotion—regulates avoidance and approach motivation. We advanced a model in which (a) avoidance motivation triggers nostalgia and (b) nostalgia, in turn, increases approach motivation. As a result, nostalgia counteracts the negative impact of avoidance motivation on approach motivation. Five methodologically diverse studies supported this regulatory model. Study 1 used a cross-sectional design and showed that avoidance motivation was positively associated with nostalgia. Nostalgia, in turn, was positively associated with approach motivation. In Study 2, an experimental induction of avoidance motivation increased nostalgia. Nostalgia then predicted increased approach motivation. Studies 3–5 tested the causal effect of nostalgia on approach motivation and behavior. These studies demonstrated that experimental nostalgia inductions strengthened approach motivation (Study 3) and approach behavior as manifested in reduced seating distance (Study 4) and increased helping (Study 5). The findings shed light on nostalgia’s role in regulating the human motivation system.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 7 April 2014
Published date: June 2014
Keywords:
nostalgia, nostalgia proneness, avoidance motivation, approach motivation, self-regulation
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Local EPrints ID: 364751
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/364751
ISSN: 1528-3542
PURE UUID: 2b888928-8b47-4ae4-aa0b-0761c2b04e90
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Date deposited: 12 May 2014 11:17
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:10
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Author:
Elena Stephan
Author:
Xinyue Zhou
Author:
Wuming He
Author:
Clay Routledge
Author:
Ad J.J.M. Vingerhoets
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