Nostalgia fosters self-continuity: Uncovering the mechanism (social connectedness) and consequence (eudaimonic well-being)
Sedikides,Constantine Wildschut,Tim Cheung,Wing-Yee Routledge,Clay Hepper,Erica G Arndt,Jamie Vail,Kenneth Zhou,Xinyue Brackstone,Kenny Vingerhoets,A.J.J.M.
Sedikides,Constantine
Wildschut,Tim
Cheung,Wing-Yee
Routledge,Clay
Hepper,Erica G
Arndt,Jamie
Vail,Kenneth
Zhou,Xinyue
Brackstone,Kenny
Vingerhoets,A.J.J.M.
Abstract
Nostalgia, a sentimental longing for one's past, is an emotion that arises from self-relevant and social memories. Nostalgia functions, in part, to foster self-continuity, that is, a sense of connection between one's past and one's present. This article examined, in 6 experiments, how nostalgia fosters self-continuity and the implications of that process for well-being. Nostalgia fosters self-continuity by augmenting social connectedness, that is, a sense of belongingness and acceptance (Experiments 1-4). Nostalgia-induced self-continuity, in turn, confers eudaimonic well-being, operationalized as subjective vitality (i.e., a feeling of aliveness and energy; Experiments 5-6). The findings clarify and expand the benefits of nostalgia for both the self-system and psychological adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record
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(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).
Date
2016
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Research Projects
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Sedikides, C, Wildschut, T, Cheung, W-Y, Routledge, C, Hepper, E G, Arndt, J, Vail, K, Zhou, X, Brackstone, K & Vingerhoets, A J J M 2016, 'Nostalgia fosters self-continuity : Uncovering the mechanism (social connectedness) and consequence (eudaimonic well-being)', Emotion, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 524-539. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000136