Science Snippet

Blast from the Past

👉Fun fact 1: Research shows even ordinary moments shine brighter over time—and even more so than we may expect!

  • For general audience: Why Mundane Moments Truly Matter (New York Times)
  • For academic readers: Zhang, T., et al. (2014). A “present” for the future: The unexpected value of rediscovery. Psychological Science, 25(10), 1851-1860.

 
👉Fun fact 2: Ordinary experiences make us happier as we grow older.

 
👉Fun fact 3: Nostalgia has many psychological benefits.

  • For general audience: The Surprising Way Nostalgia Can Help Us Cope With the Pandemic (National Graphic)
  • For academic readers
    • Routledge, C. (2015). Nostalgia: A psychological resource. Routledge.
    • Puente-Díaz, R., & Cavazos-Arroyo, J. (2021). Fighting social isolation with nostalgia: Nostalgia as a resource for feeling connected and appreciated and instilling optimism and vitality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 5378.  


​👉Fun fact 4: Sharing our positive emotions with others can bring even more joy and meaning!

  • For general audience:
  • For academic readers:
    • Boothby, E. J., Clark, M. S., & Bargh, J. A. (2014). Shared experiences are amplified. Psychological Science, 25(12), 2209-2216.
    • Gable, S. L., Reis, H. T., Impett, E. A., & Asher, E. R. (2018). What do you do when things go right? The intrapersonal and interpersonal benefits of sharing positive events. In Relationships, Well-Being and Behaviour (pp. 144-182). Routledge.
    • Lambert, N. M., et al. (2013). A boost of positive affect: The perks of sharing positive experiences. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(1), 24-43.
    • Wagner, U., et al. (2015). Beautiful friendship: Social sharing of emotions improves subjective feelings and activates the neural reward circuitry. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(6), 801-808.

Activities

Gifting a Compliment
Positive emotions
Relationships