ScienceDaily: Study sheds light on how songs, movies and memories shape how people enjoy lighthearted entertainment

“As expected by the researchers, study one results showed older music produced more memory recall and the songs were more appreciated. Additionally, the memories associated with older music were also older, more positive and had more downward temporal comparisons -- meaning participants felt that while the memories were positive, they also believed their lives were better now than at the time of the memory. Whether a memory was specific or more social did not vary widely, but several variables such as memory recall, memory immersion and positive effect were predictors of appreciation. That suggests people appreciate any type of entertainment that activates a memory, the researchers wrote.

The study with movie clips replicated most of the memory-related findings from that conducted with music, particularly older pieces of media having more associated memories, and those being older, more positive and having more temporal comparisons. One notable difference was that specific memories were a predictor of appreciation of the content versus general memories -- and were associated with less appreciation. Also, appreciation did not differ between older and newer movies, but people had a higher level of appreciation overall for movies versus music.

The findings help further understanding of autobiographical memory and how media effects are part of such mental processes. While it has long been understood and accepted that a song, movie or other piece of popular media can trigger a memory, little research has been conducted on whether these memories result in meaningful experiences. In contrast, media effects research tends to focus on more "meaningful" media, such as highly regarded, classic or highbrow forms of entertainment, not necessarily lighter fare such as pop songs, superhero movies or other popular forms of entertainment, Watts said. Better understanding of the emotional outcomes of such media-induced reminiscence is important as well, as such media can potentially help people deal with stress and negative feelings. That is especially true of the temporal findings explored in the study, or whether people feel like life was better at the time of a memory induced by media, or if they are doing better now than when they were younger, and what types of memories are associated with appreciation of media.`

Some Insights From This Article

• Have you ever felt nostalgia from stumbling upon a music or film that you haven’t heard or watched since you were way younger? People often describe this feeling as a pleasant experience that “brings them back” to that part of their lives and where they were when they first encountered that piece of media.

• Researchers study that this positive connection with nostalgia has potential to create a meaningful experience for the person recalling their past. Oftentimes people think of either how “life was so simple back then” thinking about how good their life was back then or “how things have changed” thinking about how much they are better off today thinking back. Either way these positive experiences can help us “connect ourselves” to the past and see how much we came from then.

• Time is moving forward but moments like these can help us appreciate who we were and what we did in the past. Cherish your moments now, perhaps you may be creating more positive experiences and nostalgia for yourself later down the line :)

What triggers your nostalgia?

Full article is here!

#Nostalgia #Memories #Positive