追憶往昔讓人生美好？懷舊新思考：不同構念之懷舊的效果與機制

Does Reminiscing About the Past Make Life Better? New Thoughts on Nostalgia: Effects and Mechanisms of Different Construal Levels of Nostalgia

本研究以構念層次的觀點切入，對懷舊所造成的影響做更深入的探討。我們將懷舊概念化為一種心理歷程，可以兩種不同形式展現：高構念懷舊與低構念懷舊，並會透過拓展性心態的變化而造成不同的懷舊效果。實驗一採參與者間設計，146名參與者隨機分派到四種情境之一：高構念懷舊組、低構念懷舊組、ERT懷舊組（採用event reflection task [ERT]，懷舊標準操弄）、日常回憶控制組。主要依變項為生命意義感，結果顯示高構念與ERT懷舊這兩組相較於低構念懷舊組，生命意義感均顯著較高，且低構念懷舊組的生命意義感與控制組無顯著差異。實驗二進一步探討懷舊效果的機制，188名參與者隨機分派至四種情境之一：高構念懷舊組、ERT懷舊組、低構念懷舊組、正向情緒誘發組。結果重複驗證實驗一的發現，更確認拓展性心態是關鍵的中介機制，此外也檢證正向情緒不是造成懷舊效果的主因。整體而言，本研究提出並驗證一個不同於以往的懷舊理論性模式，揭示不同形式的懷舊會產生不同的效果，且是由於拓展性心態的變化。此外，採標準操弄的ERT組所引發的懷舊效果與高構念懷舊組相似，顯示ERT所誘發的是一種較傾向高構念形式的懷舊。本研究有助於擴展與深化關於懷舊效果的理解，更提供一個新的理論性框架來思考與探討懷舊。

This study aims to examine the differential effects of nostalgia from the perspective of construal level theory, focusing on how varying construal levels of nostalgia influence psychological outcomes, particularly the sense of meaning in life. We conceptualize nostalgia as a psychological process that can manifest in two distinct forms: high-construal nostalgia (focusing on abstract perspectives) and low-construal nostalgia (focusing on concrete details). These forms influence nostalgic outcomes through their effects on an expansive mindset. In Experiment 1, a between-subjects design was employed, involving 146 participants randomly assigned to one of four conditions: high-construal nostalgia, low-construal nostalgia, ERT-induced nostalgia (Event Reflection Task, the commonly standard manipulation), or a neutral daily memory control group. The primary dependent variable was the sense of meaning in life. Results showed that both the high-construal and ERT-induced nostalgia groups reported significantly higher levels of meaning in life compared to the low-construal group. Additionally, no significant difference was observed between the low-construal group and the control group. Experiment 2 further investigated the mediating mechanism underlying the positive effects of nostalgia. A total of 188 participants were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: high-construal nostalgia, ERT-induced nostalgia, low-construal nostalgia, or a positive emotion induction group. The results not only replicated the results of Experiment 1, but also showed that the expansive mindset critically mediates the positive effects of nostalgia. It also confirmed that positive emotions are not the main cause of the positive effects of nostalgia. Overall, this research offers a novel framework for examining nostalgia through the lens of construal level theory, revealing that different forms of nostalgia produce distinct outcomes. Notably, the commonly used ERT-induced nostalgia manipulation exhibited effects comparable to those of high-construal nostalgia, suggesting that it may also represent a form of high-construal level nostalgia. Furthermore, the expansive mindset was confirmed as an essential mediating mechanism for the positive effects of nostalgia. This study not only helps reconcile inconsistent findings in prior nostalgia research but also contributes to a dynamic process-oriented understanding of nostalgia.