Abstract: Behavior change is hard, and the recovery process is equally as challenging. Yet a paucity of research has been conducted on factors that motivated and undermine sustained behavior change. In this talk, we will discuss a growing body of work that suggests nostalgic reverie (i.e., sentimental longing) is a critical factor in both the behavior change and recovery process among people living with a gambling disorder. First, we will report the results of research (Study 1) that demonstrates nostalgic reverie for life before one’s problematic gambling behaviour facilitates behaviour change. We will then report the results of new research (three studies) that demonstrates the potential dark side of nostalgia among people in recovery from a gambling disorder (as well as those living with an eating disorder). Specifically, we show that among people in recovery from an eating disorder (Study 2) and disordered gambling (Study 3) who are nostalgic for the perceived benefits of their disorder (e.g., the excitement of winning) felt they were less (subjective) advanced in their recovery process. Among those living with a gambling disorder, we also showed that optimism about their recovery process interacted with nostalgia to create ambivalence about their recovery.
Implications: This program of research suggests there are both basic and applied implications of nostalgic reverie (and its content) that both researchers and treatment providers need to take into consideration when trying to understand and facilitate sustained behavior change
