Nostalgic Scent of Childhood Increases Creativity

Abstract

Creativity of an individual can be affected by emotions, memories, and associations with past experiences. This study examines the effects of nostalgia on divergent thinking component of creativity induced by olfactory cues and memory recall, more specifically what is the impact of olfactory nostalgia on creativity. The study participants were randomly assigned to olfactory, olfactory & memory, memory, or control groups, and completed a creativity test. The study found that the combination of olfactory cues and nostalgia memory recollection triggering nostalgia boost divergent thinking and are correlated with positive emotions and inspiration. Our research findings on the impact of olfactory nostalgia contributes to the existing small body of experimental research on nostalgia effect on creativity and facilitates the understanding of the factors that can positively impact creativity and their psychological functions.