Nostalgia

Small office with technology before computers were invented. For people who were used to offices without computers, it often provides nostalgia to them.

Nostalgia is an emotion. It is the feeling of enjoying events from the past. People with nostalgia will often look at or use old things that they were familiar with years ago. This is because people feel more connected to those past times that they enjoyed, usually because it reminds them of how long it has been since they last connected to such past times. Examples where people may have the feeling of nostalgia includes watching old TV shows, using old technology that was very enjoyable, and playing with toys that you played with as a child. These memories are usually misleading, and can make someone wish that they could be young again, even if their childhood was mediocre. Human brains often leave out boring or bad memories, which can cause incorrect feelings about their childhood.[1]

During the early Greek times, nostalgia was treated as a mental condition primarily based on extreme homesickness.[2] In modern times, however, nostalgia is treated as a separate emotion. Nostalgia is often associated with positive feelings, often associated with positive memories of the past. The feeling of nostalgia often helps improve the mood of the person who is experiencing nostalgia. It also makes the person feel more connected to society. It can make the person feel more aware about living life to the best. Nostalgia is also shown to help reinforce memories, as well as assist with learning.[3]

Children wearing rainbow party hats sitting at a rainbow table
Colorful photos, like this birthday party in 2004, are often more nostalgic than black and white photos

Animals, such as cats and dogs, can also feel nostalgia.[4]

Liminal spaces, like this playplace, are also often nostalgic

Nostalgia Media

References

  1. Farrimond, Stuart (2012-07-23). "Nostalgia: Why we think things were better in the past" (in en-US). Doctor Stu's Science Blog. https://realdoctorstu.com/2012/07/23/nostalgia-why-we-think-things-were-better-in-the-past/. Retrieved 2022-03-25. 
  2. Dahl, Melissa (February 25, 2016). "The Little-Known Medical History of Homesickness". New York. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301021127/http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/02/homesickness-was-once-considered-a-medical-diagnosis.html. 
  3. Oba K.; Noriuchi M.; Atomi T.; Moriguchi Y.; Kikuchi Y. (2015-06-04). "Memory and reward systems coproduce 'nostalgic' experiences in the brain". Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 11 (7): 1069–1077. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv073. PMC 4927028. PMID 26060325.
  4. "Cats Feeling the Need to Knead?". Fussie Cat. 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2022-03-25.

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