The mnemonic muse: Nostalgia fosters creativity through openness to experience

• We examined the effect of nostalgia on creativity.
• Four experiments show that nostalgia increased creativity.
• The effect of nostalgia emerged above and beyond general positive affect.
• The effect of nostalgia on creativity was mediated by openness to experience.

We proposed and tested the hypothesis that nostalgia fosters creativity. In Experiments 1 and 2, we examined whether nostalgia increases creativity. Nostalgia, relative to control, sparked creative prose in a writing task. We proceeded to test the mediating role of openness to experience. As hypothesized, openness to experience emerged as a plausible mediator of nostalgia's positive influence on creativity in Experiment 3. Finally, in Experiment 4, nostalgia, mediated by openness, boosted creativity above and beyond positive affect. The findings showcase the relevance of nostalgic reverie for the present and future, and establish nostalgia as a force of creative endeavors.