Autobiographical memory functions of nostalgia in comparison to rumination and counterfactual thinking: similarity and uniqueness
Abstract
We compared and contrasted nostalgia with rumination and counterfactual thinking in terms of their autobiographical memory functions. Specifically, we assessed individual differences in nostalgia, rumination, and counterfactual thinking, which we then linked to self-reported functions or uses of autobiographical memory (Self-Regard, Boredom Reduction, Death Preparation, Intimacy Maintenance, Conversation, Teach/Inform, and Bitterness Revival). We tested which memory functions are shared and which are uniquely linked to nostalgia. The commonality among nostalgia, rumination, and counterfactual thinking resides in their shared positive associations with all memory functions: individuals who evinced a stronger propensity towards past-oriented thought (as manifested in nostalgia, rumination, and counterfactual thinking) reported greater overall recruitment of memories in the service of present functioning. The uniqueness of nostalgia resides in its comparatively strong positive associations with Intimacy Maintenance, Teach/Inform, and Self-Regard and weak association with Bitterness Revival. In all, nostalgia possesses a more positive functional signature than do rumination and counterfactual thinking.
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Trait nostalgia is positively associated with intimacy maintenance.
“For instance, trait nostalgia is positively associated with intimacy maintenance29.”
From Nostalgia increases punitiveness by intensifying moral concern (2024) · cites this paper as [29]
Individuals high in trait nostalgia are more likely to use autobiographical memories to maintain intimacy.
“Supporting this idea, individuals high in trait nostalgia are more likely to use autobiographical memories to maintain intimacy [25].”
From Nostalgia: An impactful social emotion (2023) · cites this paper as [25]
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Juhl, J., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Diebel, T., Cheung, W., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (2020) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12505 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Cheung, W.-Y., Wildschut, T., & Sedikides, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Southampton (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wildschut, Tim
- Venue
- Memory
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-07
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 229-237
- ISSN
- 0965-8211 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-0686
- OpenAlex
- W2728922461
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 4.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Memory (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- Winchester Research Repository (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Nostalgia and Consumer Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- nostalgia, rumination, counterfactual reasoning, autobiographical memory, memory function, individual differences, self-regard, preparation for death, boredom reduction
- MeSH terms
- Rumination, Cognitive, Adult, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Recall, Thinking, Memory, Episodic
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