TY - JOUR
T1 - Nostalgia motivates pursuit of important goals by increasing meaning in life
AU - Sedikides, Constantine
AU - Cheung, Wing-Yee
AU - Wildschut, Tim
AU - Hepper, Erica G.
AU - Baldursson, Einar Baldvin
AU - Pedersen, Bendt Torpegård
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - This research focused on existential and motivational implications of the emotion of nostalgia. Nostalgia (relative to control) increased meaning in life, which, in turn, galvanised intentions to pursue one's most important goal (Experiment 1) and to pursue one's most important, but not least important, goal (Experiment 2). The basic pattern held in two cultures (British and Danish) independently of positive affect. This is the first evidence that nostalgia has specific motivational consequences (i.e., pursuit of more, but not less, important goals) and transmits these consequences via meaning in life. Also, this is the first evidence that meaning is associated with specific motivational consequences. Discussion considers the relevance of the findings for the emotion and motivation literatures.
AB - This research focused on existential and motivational implications of the emotion of nostalgia. Nostalgia (relative to control) increased meaning in life, which, in turn, galvanised intentions to pursue one's most important goal (Experiment 1) and to pursue one's most important, but not least important, goal (Experiment 2). The basic pattern held in two cultures (British and Danish) independently of positive affect. This is the first evidence that nostalgia has specific motivational consequences (i.e., pursuit of more, but not less, important goals) and transmits these consequences via meaning in life. Also, this is the first evidence that meaning is associated with specific motivational consequences. Discussion considers the relevance of the findings for the emotion and motivation literatures.
KW - goal pursuit
KW - management of goal pursuit
KW - meaning
KW - meaning in life
KW - motivation
KW - nostalgia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033576350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ejsp.2318
DO - 10.1002/ejsp.2318
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0046-2772
VL - 48
SP - 209
EP - 216
JO - European Journal of Social Psychology
JF - European Journal of Social Psychology
IS - 2
ER -