The mnemonic muse: nostalgia fosters creativity through openness to experience

Wijnand van Tilburg; Constantine Sedikides; Tim Wildschut

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2015.02.002

The mnemonic muse: nostalgia fosters creativity through openness to experience

Wijnand van Tilburg, Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut

Psychology

University of Southampton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

74 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

We proposed and tested the hypothesis that nostalgia fosters creativity. In Experiments 1 and 2, we examined whether nostalgia increases creativity. Nostalgia, relative to control, sparked creative prose in a writing task. We proceeded to test the mediating role of openness to experience. As hypothesized, openness to experience emerged as a plausible mediator of nostalgia's positive influence on creativity in Experiment 3. Finally, in Experiment 4, nostalgia, mediated by openness, boosted creativity above and beyond positive affect. The findings showcase the relevance of nostalgic reverie for the present and future, and establish nostalgia as a force of creative endeavors. (c) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Number of pages	7
Journal	JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Volume	59
Early online date	12 Feb 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2015.02.002
Publication status	Published - Jul 2015

Keywords

Nostalgia
Creativity
Openness to experience
Memory
Emotion
AVOIDANCE MOTOR ACTIONS
MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
LIVING ABROAD
DUAL PATHWAY
RISK-TAKING
BIG 5
PERSONALITY
INSPIRATION
MODEL
CONSERVATISM

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The mnemonic muse: Nostalgia_TILBURG_PublishedJuly2015_GREEN AAMAccepted author manuscript, 324 KB

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abstract = "We proposed and tested the hypothesis that nostalgia fosters creativity. In Experiments 1 and 2, we examined whether nostalgia increases creativity. Nostalgia, relative to control, sparked creative prose in a writing task. We proceeded to test the mediating role of openness to experience. As hypothesized, openness to experience emerged as a plausible mediator of nostalgia's positive influence on creativity in Experiment 3. Finally, in Experiment 4, nostalgia, mediated by openness, boosted creativity above and beyond positive affect. The findings showcase the relevance of nostalgic reverie for the present and future, and establish nostalgia as a force of creative endeavors. (c) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",

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KW - Memory

KW - Emotion

KW - AVOIDANCE MOTOR ACTIONS

KW - MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE

KW - LIVING ABROAD

KW - DUAL PATHWAY

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KW - BIG 5

KW - PERSONALITY

KW - INSPIRATION

KW - MODEL

KW - CONSERVATISM

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The mnemonic muse: nostalgia fosters creativity through openness to experience

Abstract

Keywords

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