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| What is nostalgia good for? | What is nostalgia good for? |
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| A Standard Life study suggests 28 to 40-year-olds don't plan for the future because they prefer to reminisce about past times. Yet experts say nostalgia can give meaning to our seemingly dull lives. | |
| What was the most recent film you saw? Chocolate you bought? Fashion trend you noticed? Or friend you contacted on Facebook? | What was the most recent film you saw? Chocolate you bought? Fashion trend you noticed? Or friend you contacted on Facebook? |
| "If it was Star Trek, a Wispa, shoulder pads or school friend, then don't fear, you are entirely typical of someone who lived through the Noughties," says a report from financial services provider Standard Life, which concludes that more than any other decade, the 2000s were very retro. | "If it was Star Trek, a Wispa, shoulder pads or school friend, then don't fear, you are entirely typical of someone who lived through the Noughties," says a report from financial services provider Standard Life, which concludes that more than any other decade, the 2000s were very retro. |
| Filmmakers are turning to the books of their childhood | Filmmakers are turning to the books of their childhood |
| Businesses and advertisers have known for years that nostalgia sells, that the products popular during a person's youth will influence their buying habits throughout their lifetime. | Businesses and advertisers have known for years that nostalgia sells, that the products popular during a person's youth will influence their buying habits throughout their lifetime. |
| "But they didn't know why, and they perhaps didn't care - that was their endgame, to figure out how to sell things," says psychologist Clay Routledge, of North Dakota State University. | "But they didn't know why, and they perhaps didn't care - that was their endgame, to figure out how to sell things," says psychologist Clay Routledge, of North Dakota State University. |
| In recent years, psychologists have been trying to analyse the powerful and enduring appeal of our own past - what Mr Routledge calls the "psychological underpinnings of nostalgia". | In recent years, psychologists have been trying to analyse the powerful and enduring appeal of our own past - what Mr Routledge calls the "psychological underpinnings of nostalgia". |
| "Why does it matter? Why would a 40-year-old man care about a car he drove when he was 18?" he asks. It matters, quite simply, because nostalgia makes us feel good. | "Why does it matter? Why would a 40-year-old man care about a car he drove when he was 18?" he asks. It matters, quite simply, because nostalgia makes us feel good. |
| Heart sick | Heart sick |
| Once nostalgia was considered a sickness - the word derives from the Greek "nostos" (return) and "algos" (pain), suggesting suffering due to a desire to return to a place of origin. | Once nostalgia was considered a sickness - the word derives from the Greek "nostos" (return) and "algos" (pain), suggesting suffering due to a desire to return to a place of origin. |
| Not second-hand, oh no... it's vintage | |
| A 17th Century medical student coined the term "nostalgia" for anxieties displayed by Swiss mercenaries fighting away from home, although some military doctors believed their problems were specific to the Swiss and caused by the Alpine racket of cowbells. | A 17th Century medical student coined the term "nostalgia" for anxieties displayed by Swiss mercenaries fighting away from home, although some military doctors believed their problems were specific to the Swiss and caused by the Alpine racket of cowbells. |
| Understanding has moved on somewhat since, with dedicated research in recent years suggesting that nostalgia is "good psychological medicine". | Understanding has moved on somewhat since, with dedicated research in recent years suggesting that nostalgia is "good psychological medicine". |
| Studies by Mr Routledge, along with colleagues at the University of Southampton, have found that remembering past times improves mood, increases self-esteem, strengthens social bonds and imbues life with meaning. | Studies by Mr Routledge, along with colleagues at the University of Southampton, have found that remembering past times improves mood, increases self-esteem, strengthens social bonds and imbues life with meaning. |
| Not bad for just a few minutes' daydreaming about scoring the winning goal for the school team, aged 12, or reminiscing about a family caravanning trip in a balmy summer gone by. | Not bad for just a few minutes' daydreaming about scoring the winning goal for the school team, aged 12, or reminiscing about a family caravanning trip in a balmy summer gone by. |
| Even toys are now for grown-ups | Even toys are now for grown-ups |
| "Most of our days are often filled with with routine activities that aren't particularly significant - shopping for groceries, commuting to work and so forth," says Mr Routledge. | "Most of our days are often filled with with routine activities that aren't particularly significant - shopping for groceries, commuting to work and so forth," says Mr Routledge. |
| "Nostalgia is a way for us to tap into the past experiences that we have that are quite meaningful - to remind us that our lives are worthwhile, that we are people of value, that we have good relationships, that we are happy and that life has some sense of purpose or meaning." | "Nostalgia is a way for us to tap into the past experiences that we have that are quite meaningful - to remind us that our lives are worthwhile, that we are people of value, that we have good relationships, that we are happy and that life has some sense of purpose or meaning." |
| Because the psychology of nostalgia is a relatively new field of research, there is no evidence to show whether particular generations are becoming more nostalgic. | Because the psychology of nostalgia is a relatively new field of research, there is no evidence to show whether particular generations are becoming more nostalgic. |
| Dr Tim Wildschut, of the University of Southampton, stresses that nostalgia is a "fundamental human emotion" and "not something that changes overnight". | Dr Tim Wildschut, of the University of Southampton, stresses that nostalgia is a "fundamental human emotion" and "not something that changes overnight". |
| Rose-tinted view | Rose-tinted view |
| But Damian Barr, who wrote the 2004 book Get It Together about struggling 20-somethings, fears the generation that reached adulthood in the 1990s and 2000s could find themselves handicapped by excessive nostalgia. | But Damian Barr, who wrote the 2004 book Get It Together about struggling 20-somethings, fears the generation that reached adulthood in the 1990s and 2000s could find themselves handicapped by excessive nostalgia. |
| Big in the 80s, now reformed | Big in the 80s, now reformed |
| "We are less prepared for our difficult present by having had a very easy time of it when we were very young," he says. "We grew up in a boom - we are living in a bust." | "We are less prepared for our difficult present by having had a very easy time of it when we were very young," he says. "We grew up in a boom - we are living in a bust." |
| Facing a present defined by recession, the threat of international terrorism and warnings of environmental doom, young adults are fixated on the happy associations from a more hopeful past, says Mr Barr, who helped develop Standard Life's report. | Facing a present defined by recession, the threat of international terrorism and warnings of environmental doom, young adults are fixated on the happy associations from a more hopeful past, says Mr Barr, who helped develop Standard Life's report. |
| It is a paradox of technological advances such as the internet and the proliferation of TV channels enable us to wallow in the past. Digital channels replay favourite shows, and countless fansites are devoted to yesteryear's bands and confectionery. | |
| "We are going back to the bands, the TV shows, the films - all the kinds of things we enjoyed at school and at university. And the market is responding to that - bands are reforming, TV shows being remade." | "We are going back to the bands, the TV shows, the films - all the kinds of things we enjoyed at school and at university. And the market is responding to that - bands are reforming, TV shows being remade." |
| But Mr Barr warns the past can be fun in measured doses and for the right reasons. | But Mr Barr warns the past can be fun in measured doses and for the right reasons. |
| "You shouldn't revisit it as a way of avoiding the present or not thinking about the future. If you spend too much time thinking about the past, you are simply not going to be prepared for the future socially or emotionally." | "You shouldn't revisit it as a way of avoiding the present or not thinking about the future. If you spend too much time thinking about the past, you are simply not going to be prepared for the future socially or emotionally." |
| Work it out | Work it out |
| While highlighting the benefits of nostalgia, a 2006 report in Psychology Today magazine has warned that "overdoing reminiscence" risks an absence of joy derived from the present, and a reliance on past memories to provide happiness. | While highlighting the benefits of nostalgia, a 2006 report in Psychology Today magazine has warned that "overdoing reminiscence" risks an absence of joy derived from the present, and a reliance on past memories to provide happiness. |
| Thinking about the past could also trigger painful emotions, such as grief for lost loved ones or feeling like a has-been if recalling a distant career success. | Thinking about the past could also trigger painful emotions, such as grief for lost loved ones or feeling like a has-been if recalling a distant career success. |
| A NOSTALGIA 'WORKOUT' List cherished memoriesFind photos or mementos from happy timesClose your eyes and think about what is outside the "picture frame" to conjure subtle detailsReminiscing with people from your past strengthens relationshipsTake mental snapshots and save mementos of happy times for future nostalgia Source: Psychology Today | A NOSTALGIA 'WORKOUT' List cherished memoriesFind photos or mementos from happy timesClose your eyes and think about what is outside the "picture frame" to conjure subtle detailsReminiscing with people from your past strengthens relationshipsTake mental snapshots and save mementos of happy times for future nostalgia Source: Psychology Today |
| Instead, focus on the positivity of the experience, rather than feeling bad because it happened so long ago. | Instead, focus on the positivity of the experience, rather than feeling bad because it happened so long ago. |
| "People who see each good experience as permanently enriching are more likely to get a mood boost," the article noted. | "People who see each good experience as permanently enriching are more likely to get a mood boost," the article noted. |
| Nostalgia is usually involuntary and triggered by negative feelings - most commonly loneliness - against which it acts as a sort of natural anti-depressant by countering those feelings. | Nostalgia is usually involuntary and triggered by negative feelings - most commonly loneliness - against which it acts as a sort of natural anti-depressant by countering those feelings. |
| But, just as businesses aim to exploit nostalgia in consumers, psychologists suggest people could employ nostalgia "workouts" to enjoy its benefits. | But, just as businesses aim to exploit nostalgia in consumers, psychologists suggest people could employ nostalgia "workouts" to enjoy its benefits. |
| Mr Routledge describes tests in which people suffering worries that their lives lack meaning spend just five minutes writing about an experience that made them feel nostalgic. | Mr Routledge describes tests in which people suffering worries that their lives lack meaning spend just five minutes writing about an experience that made them feel nostalgic. |
| "People who were low in meaning in life who were then given the nostalgia 'workout' did have a significant increase in psychological wellbeing. They felt more alive and energetic, their life [felt] worthwhile." | "People who were low in meaning in life who were then given the nostalgia 'workout' did have a significant increase in psychological wellbeing. They felt more alive and energetic, their life [felt] worthwhile." |
| "But one of the interesting things about nostalgia is that most people engage in it spontaneously without requiring a 'workout' regime." | "But one of the interesting things about nostalgia is that most people engage in it spontaneously without requiring a 'workout' regime." |
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