title: Nostalgia-Evoked Inspiration: Mediating Mechanisms and Motivational Implications.
abstract: Six studies examined the nostalgia-inspiration link and its motivational implications. In Study 1, nostalgia proneness was positively associated with inspiration frequency and intensity. In Studies 2 and 3, the recollection of nostalgic (vs. ordinary) experiences increased both general inspiration and specific inspiration to engage in exploratory activities. In Study 4, serial mediational analyses supported a model in which nostalgia increases social connectedness, which subsequently fosters self-esteem, which then boosts inspiration. In Study 5, a rigorous evaluation of this serial mediational model (with a novel nostalgia induction controlling for positive affect) reinforced the idea that nostalgia-elicited social connectedness increases self-esteem, which then heightens inspiration. Study 6 extended the serial mediational model by demonstrating that nostalgia-evoked inspiration predicts goal pursuit (intentions to pursue an important goal). Nostalgia spawns inspiration via social connectedness and attendant self-esteem. In turn, nostalgia-evoked inspiration bolsters motivation.
authors.affiliation: Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel elena_stephan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sedikides
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wildschut
authors.affiliation: University of Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Wing-Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: North Dakota State University, Fargo, USA.
authors.forename: Clay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Routledge
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arndt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: inspiration; motivation; nostalgia; self-esteem; social connectedness