Nostalgia: What Are Its Benefits and Drawbacks?
Reflecting on memories of the past can evoke warm feelings of nostalgia, but there is more to it than that.
We have all spent some time in our lives reminiscing the good old days. A photograph, a place, a familiar scent, or that one song on the radio is all we need to transport us to the days of the past. These are some of the many manifestations of nostalgia, a multifaceted and mixed emotion. Although it can give rise to those warm, fuzzy and positive feelings, nostalgia can also negatively affect our mental health.
The complexity of this emotion makes it a topic worth exploring. Through this article, we will take a deep dive into the psychology of nostalgia, and briefly look at its history, benefits and drawbacks.
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What Is Nostalgia?
Nostalgia can be described as a social and emotional experience characterised by a sentimental yearning for the past. It is one of the 27 main emotions that is experienced across cultures and is regarded as a universal emotion.
Although the concept of nostalgia has long been around, Johannes Hofer, a Swiss physician, first coined the term in 1688 in his medical dissertation. He derived the term from two Greek words“nostos” which means return and “algos” which means pain or suffering.
Hofer initially observed nostalgia among Swiss soldiers who were sent abroad as a part of their military service. Whenever these soldiers heard a Swiss milking song called Khue-Reyen, they would feel nostalgic. So much so that they would experience heart palpitations, anxiety, reduced appetite and sleep. These physiological reactions led several practitioners and doctors to view nostalgia as a mental disorder for a long period of time.
Experts and practitioners continued to examine several cures and treatments for nostalgia in the following years. Hofer himself suggested that one possible remedy involved sending the “patient” back to their home. Other parts of the world however adopted harsher treatments. In France, physicians recommended terror and pain as remedies while on the other hand soldiers in the American Civil War who reported feeling homesick or nostalgic were shamed and taunted for being weak-minded.
It was only when we reached the latter half of the 20th century that the context of nostalgia was broadened and it was perceived as the bittersweet emotion that we know today.
Pretty interesting right? Who knew that reminiscing the days that have gone by can have such a turbulent history? While nostalgia’s fascinating history is only able to capture one half of its complex essence, the other lies in its significance and benefits which we will look at now.
What Is the Significance of Nostalgia and What Are Its Benefits?
The psychological significance of nostalgia has intrigued scientists for decades. A thorough examination of various studies helps uncover some factors that explain the purpose of nostalgia. However, many of these factors tend to overlap with their benefits and it seems wise to look at these factors together.
a. Improves Social Relationships
Whenever we tend to reminisce about a specific period in our lives, the memories tend to have an underlying theme: the presence of intimate relationships. Whether it is the trip you took in summer, your first sleepover or your first date, the presence of family, friends and romantic partners makes those memories meaningful.
Reminiscing these happenings of our life, according to numerous studies, helps us feel socially confident, and valued while also helping us boost our optimism in our ability to create and maintain close bonds. Additionally, it can also enhance our willingness to connect with others and also resolve any ongoing relationship conflicts.
b. Improves Mood
One of the other most significant contributions of nostalgia is its ability to improve our mood, particularly when times are tough.
A study that was conducted during the height of the pandemic was accurately able to capture this effect. The findings showed that when individuals tend to be more nostalgic, they had better moods and greater optimism. Nostalgia when evoked by music can also help protect us from unpleasant feelings like sadness in addition to increasing optimism.
c. Connects You To Yourself
Nostalgia acts as that vehicle which helps us get in touch with our authentic selves.
This effect was demonstrated in a 2014 study which showed that when people wrote down about a specific memory, they perceived their past selves to be an authentic representation of who they are. This exercise also helped individuals focus less on meeting others’ expectations while increasing their focus towards following their own desires and goals.
d. Provides Meaning To Our Lives
As human beings, we constantly work towards finding meaning and purpose in our lives. However, in this pursuit, we experience phases when we view our lives to be uncertain and meaningless.
According to research, reminiscing about positive memories from our past, in these times, can protect us from feeling like life has lost all meaning while also boosting our sense of purpose and assisting us in living a more meaningful life.
This effect also holds true when we experience boredom, an emotional state which involves feeling a sense of purposelessness. In such cases, recollection of past events contributes to an effective strategy in re-establishing meaning in our life.
e. Builds Resilience and Improves Physical Health
Nostalgia plays an extremely crucial role in nurturing resilience. Studies have demonstrated that when recalling past scenarios where we overcame adversity helps boost our self-efficacy, which in turn not only helps us deal with ongoing stressful events better but also fosters resilience. Nostalgia not only improves well-being but also assists those who feel their lives are meaningless in coping with stressful situations.
In addition to these psychological benefits, nostalgia contributes towards enhancing our physical well-being. As shown in a 2022 study, nostalgic reflection encourages us to increase our physical activity and make healthier dietary decisions. It also serves as an important resource in increasing our tolerance to physical pain and reducing its perceived severity.
The aforementioned benefits barely scratch the surface when it comes to understanding the significance and benefits of nostalgia. But as we mentioned earlier, there is more to it than what meets the eye. To get a more thorough understanding let us now look at the downside of nostalgia.
What Are the Drawbacks of Nostalgia?
Nostalgia is a complicated emotion and to obtain a more nuanced understanding of the emotion, we must explore its limitations as well.
Indulging in nostalgic thinking, according to experts, can result in focusing too much on the past and not living in the present. In some cases, it might also double as a method to avoid dealing with our present-day problems.
Finally, nostalgia can be very detrimental to individuals who already experience anxiety or excessive worrying. According to a 2012 study, habitually anxious people exhibited more signs of depression and anxiety when they were made to experience nostalgia. The aforementioned studies highlight that while nostalgia when moderated is beneficial, overindulgence can be detrimental. In such cases, you should know that it is okay to seek help.
Nostalgia symbolises our longing for the time that has gone by and has had quite the journey. Looking back at the days that have gone by, can be a very important indicator in gauging our progress and growth as individuals. At the same time, it is important to be aware that dwelling in the past might not be the solution to present challenges. While looking back at our past helps us understand our journey, we must use its learnings and apply them to the future.
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