The humanizing power of nostalgia: a pathway to psychological richness

We address the relation between personal nostalgia and psychological richness, and the mediating role of self-humanity, across four studies (N = 2,585). In cross-sectional Studies 1a–1b, nostalgia was positively associated with psychological richness, and self-humanity mediated this association. In experimental Study 2, nostalgia increased both self-humanity and psychological richness, with self-humanity mediating the effect of nostalgia on psychological richness. Finally, in experimental Study 3, self-humanity augmented psychological richness, thus providing support for a causal chain model. Collectively, these findings establish a novel psychological pathway whereby nostalgic experiences enhance the perceived richness of life, in part by fostering a stronger sense of one’s humanity.