The influence of self-discontinuity on nostalgia: A conceptual replication of Sedikides, Wildschut, Routledge, & Arndt (2015)

Abstract

This study is a conceptual replication of Sedikides, Wildschut, Routledge, & Arndt (2015) findings that negative self-discontinuity correlates with nostalgia proneness in daily life and elicits more state nostalgia. In Study 1, we modified the original procedure and asked participants to indicate whether the changes in their lives were positive or negative and rate the self-discontinuity that stemmed from those changes. Although no significant correlation was observed between the number of negative changes and nostalgia proneness (.07), a significant correlation was observed between self-discontinuity and nostalgia proneness (.20). However, controlled for age, the correlation reduced slightly (.18) and was not significant. Exploratory analyses revealed that nostalgia proneness was positively correlated only with self-discontinuity due to negative life changes rather than positive ones. In Study 2A, we used the same materials as in the original study to manipulate self-discontinuity, but in Study 2B, we used new materials. The results indicate that self-discontinuity did not influence levels of state nostalgia. Overall, even though negative self-discontinuity is associated with nostalgia proneness, it does not elicit higher levels of state nostalgia.