Rose-Tinted Glasses and Red-Hot Politics: Collective Nostalgia Shapes Intergroup Attitudes and Support for Strong Leaders

Biography

Dr. Michael J. A. Wohl (an alum of the University of Alberta; graduating year undisclosed) is a
Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa,
Canada, and Director of the Conflict Resolution Laboratory (CRL). His research sits at the
intersection of social and political psychology, with a focus on the psychological underpinnings
of intergroup conflict, reconciliation, and political attitudes. At the CRL, Dr. Wohl and his team
investigate the causes and consequences of harmdoing between groups, as well as the pathways
to forgiveness, justice, and lasting peace. His recent work explores the role of
nostalgia—particularly collective nostalgia—in shaping political behavior. This includes
examining how longing for an idealized past can both unite groups and, at times, promote
polarization, resistance to diversity, and support for anti-democratic leaders.

Dr. Wohl has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, with his work cited more than 19,000
times. He is a Fellow of both the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for
Personality and Social Psychology. At Carleton University, he has been recognized with several
prestigious honors, including the Research Achievement Award, the Graduate Mentoring Award,
and the Teaching Excellence Award. To support his research, Dr. Wohl has secured over seven
million dollars in funding from organizations such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Defense Research and
Development Canada, the Institute for Humane Studies, and Ontario’s Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care.

Abstract

The human mind is a master time traveler, often seeking refuge in the past—especially when a
cherished group identity feels under threat. Psychologically this can take the form of collective
nostalgia: sentimental longing for a (sometimes imagined) past that reflects desired aspects of the
present. Critically, the content of this nostalgia—what group members are nostalgizing
about—has predictive power. In this talk, I present data showing that different forms of
collective nostalgia are associated with divergent group outcomes, including support for strong
leaders. I argue that understanding the specific content of collective nostalgia is essential for
researchers and policymakers seeking to explain and address contemporary intra- and intergroup
relations, including both pro- and anti-social behaviours.