TY - JOUR
T1 - Nostalgia, reflection, brooding
T2 - Psychological benefits and autobiographical memory functions
AU - Jiang, Tonglin
AU - Cheung, Wing Yee
AU - Wildschut, Tim
AU - Sedikides, Constantine
PY - 2021/4/1
Y1 - 2021/4/1
N2 - We sought to clarify the psychological profile of experimentally induced nostalgia, compared to two other modes of thinking about one’s past— reflection and brooding—also experimentally induced. We tested both British and Chinese participants. Our main hypothesis was that nostalgia’s profile is more positive in terms of six psychological benefits and seven autobiographical memory functions. The results were consistent with the hypothesis. In regard to psychological benefits, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) increased positive affect, self-esteem, self-continuity, social connectedness, and meaning in life. Furthermore, nostalgia increased optimism relative to brooding (but not reflection). In regard to autobiographical memory functions, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) led to higher boredom reduction, conversation, intimacy maintenance, and death preparation, as well as lower bitterness revival. Nostalgia also elevated teach/inform relative to brooding (but not reflection). The findings were similar for British and Chinese participants.
AB - We sought to clarify the psychological profile of experimentally induced nostalgia, compared to two other modes of thinking about one’s past— reflection and brooding—also experimentally induced. We tested both British and Chinese participants. Our main hypothesis was that nostalgia’s profile is more positive in terms of six psychological benefits and seven autobiographical memory functions. The results were consistent with the hypothesis. In regard to psychological benefits, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) increased positive affect, self-esteem, self-continuity, social connectedness, and meaning in life. Furthermore, nostalgia increased optimism relative to brooding (but not reflection). In regard to autobiographical memory functions, nostalgia (vs. reflection and brooding) led to higher boredom reduction, conversation, intimacy maintenance, and death preparation, as well as lower bitterness revival. Nostalgia also elevated teach/inform relative to brooding (but not reflection). The findings were similar for British and Chinese participants.
KW - Autobiographical memory functions
KW - Brooding
KW - Culture
KW - Nostalgia
KW - Psychological benefits
KW - Reflection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102481940&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1aafd9e2-68e1-3041-87e6-2e553f496bce/
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2021.103107
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2021.103107
M3 - Article
VL - 90
JO - Consciousness and Cognition
JF - Consciousness and Cognition
SN - 1053-8100
M1 - 103107
ER -