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.
1University of Southampton, UK.
Wing-Yee
WY
Cheung
Tim
T
Wildschut
Constantine
C
Sedikides
Erica G
EG
Hepper
Jamie
J
Arndt
Ad J J M
AJ
Vingerhoets
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012938:Social Perception; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult
emotion; memory; nostalgia; optimism; self-esteem; social connectedness