Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA.
Memory. 2012 Jul;20(5):452-60. doi: 10.1080/09658211.2012.677452. Epub 2012 May 28.
In three experiments we tested whether nostalgia bolsters meaning in life relative to two other modes of autobiographical thought: imagining a desired future experience and recalling a positive past experience. In Experiment 1 participants thought about a nostalgic or desired future experience and then completed a presence of meaning scale. Thinking about a nostalgic (compared to desired future) experience increased perceived presence of meaning. In Experiment 2 we examined whether nostalgia can additionally reduce the search for meaning. Participants thought about a nostalgic, desired future or recent positive experience, and then completed a search for meaning scale. Nostalgia, relative to both comparison conditions, decreased the search for meaning. Finally we tested whether, by virtue of its capacity to increase meaning, nostalgia can mitigate threats to meaning. In Experiment 3 participants were exposed to either absurd or representational art, under the guise that they would later have to interpret its meaning, and then thought about either a nostalgic or a recent positive experience. Meaning was subsequently measured. The absurd art interpretation condition decreased the perceived presence of meaning but nostalgic reflection attenuated this effect.
在三个实验中，我们测试了怀旧是否相对于另外两种自传体思维模式（想象未来渴望的体验和回忆过去积极的体验）更能增强生活的意义。在实验 1 中，参与者思考怀旧或未来渴望的体验，然后完成意义存在量表。思考怀旧的体验（相对于未来渴望的体验）会增加意义存在的感知。在实验 2 中，我们检验了怀旧是否可以进一步减少对意义的寻求。参与者思考怀旧、未来渴望或最近积极的体验，然后完成寻找意义量表。与两个对照组相比，怀旧感降低了对意义的寻求。最后，我们测试了怀旧是否通过增加意义的能力来缓解对意义的威胁。在实验 3 中，参与者被暴露在荒谬或代表性的艺术下，暗示他们以后必须解释其意义，然后思考怀旧或最近积极的体验。随后测量意义。荒谬艺术的解释条件降低了意义的感知存在，但怀旧的反思减轻了这种影响。
