Hotchin, Victoria and West, Keon. 2021. Reflecting on nostalgic, positive, and novel experiences increases state Openness. Journal of Personality, 89(2), pp. 258-275. ISSN 0022-3506 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Objective
Personality change is a growing field of interest, but relatively few studies have examined causes of change in Openness. We investigated whether it is possible to influence state Openness, and through what mechanisms this effect may occur.

Method
In two experiments (Study 1: N = 144, Mage = 36.4, 58% female, 88% White; Study 2: N = 269, Mage = 34.0, 60% female, 91% White), participants reflected on and wrote about a personal experience requested to be either: nostalgic; positive and novel (Study 1); positive or novel (Study 2); or ordinary. They rated the events for nostalgia, positivity, novelty, and sociality, and completed measures of state positive affect, self‐esteem, social connectedness, meaning in life, and state Openness.

Results
Participants who recalled positive and/or novel events reported greater state Openness than those who recalled ordinary events. In Study 1, this also applied to those recalling nostalgic events. Event ratings of positivity (both studies), nostalgia and novelty (Study 2) independently predicted state Openness. State positive affect and self‐esteem were independent predictors in both studies, suggesting possible indirect paths.

Conclusions
Reflecting on nostalgic, positive, and novel experiences can increase state Openness. This finding may be useful for interventions targeting trait‐level change.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12580
Additional Information:	Funding Information: Economic and Social Research Council UK
Keywords:	intervention, nostalgia, novelty, Openness, personality change
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 26 July 2020 Accepted 28 August 2020 Published Online April 2021 Published
Funders:	Funding body Funder ID Grant Number Economic and Social Research Council UK UNSPECIFIED ES/J500124/1
Item ID:	29195
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2020 09:53
Last Modified:	26 Mar 2021 10:33
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/29195

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