Time, space, and nostalgia in narrative comprehension

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between tempo-spatial representation and nostalgia in narrative comprehension. First, the temporal and spatial dimension in mental representation in narrative comprehension is reviewed. Readers construct the tempo-spatial framework while reading stories. This framework is fundamental to the reader’s mental representation in narrative comprehension. Second, how subjective nostalgia influences narrative comprehension is discussed. The feeling “nostalgia” facilitates the integration of temporal passages and different spatial layouts. Third, in this study, we showed the future direction of research—especially, the application to understand individuals with highly sensitive person characteristics. The possibilities of clinical application toward subclinical population were considered as a future direction.