The human mind is a master time traveller with the past often being a place of refuge for people who perceive that a cherished group to which they belong is under existential threat. This can be accomplished psychologically via collective nostalgic reverie (i.e., sentimental longing or wistful reflection for days gone by). Critically, the longed-for past may exist only in the minds of those who desire a particular present. Consequently, the (perceived) past group members nostalgize about has predictive utility. In this keynote, I will present data that demonstrates collective nostalgia content (i.e., what group members are nostalgizing about) can illuminate the varying (pro- and anti-social) ways group members attempt to protect their group’s future. For instance, I will present research that delineates the relation between collective nostalgia and support for strong leaders. Discussion will focus on the need for researchers and policy makers to understand that the content of collective nostalgia matters for understanding contemporary intra- and intergroup attitudes and behaviors.
Dr. Michael J. A. Wohl is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where he also serves as the Director of the Conflict Resolution Laboratory (CRL). The CRL is dedicated to the comprehensive exploration of harm-doing causes and consequences at both interpersonal and intergroup levels. At present, the CLR places a primary emphasis on the causes and consequences of group-based emotions. One ongoing research avenue within this focus is the examination of collective nostalgia-sentimentally longing for the in-group's past. The research within this focus explores the predictive utility of collective nostalgia content, specifically delving into what aspects group members feel nostalgic about. This line of inquiry aims to understand how collective nostalgia not only strengthens in-group bonds but also has the potential for detrimental outcomes, including political polarization and support for non-democratic leaders. With over 190 peer-reviewed papers that have been cited over 16,000 times, he is the receipt of Carleton University's Research Achievement Award, Teaching Excellence Award, and Graduate Mentoring Award. He was recently named a Fellow of the American Psychological Society and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. To facilitate his research, Wohl has received over seven million dollars in research funding from organization including, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Defense Research and Development Canada, Institute for Humane Studies, and Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
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