Nostalgia-evoked inspiration: mediating mechanisms and motivational implications

• Main Authors: Stephan, Elena (Author), Sedikides, Constantine (Author), Wildschut, Tim (Author), Cheung, Wing-Yee (Author), Routledge, Clay (Author), Arndt, J. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015-10.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 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 2-3, 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.