The word was
coined by a 17th-century medical student to describe the anxieties
displayed by Swiss mercenaries fighting away from home. Described as
a medical condition, a form of melancholy, it became an important
word or expression in Romanticism, a style of art, literature, etc.,
during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that emphasized the
imagination and emotions.
Nostalgia can
refer to a general interest in the past, personalities and events,
especially the "good old days" from one's earlier life.
Scientific literature on nostalgia usually refers to nostalgia
regarding the personal life and has mainly studied the effects of
nostalgia. Smell and touch are strong evokers of nostalgia due to the
processing of these stimuli first passing through the amygdala, the
emotional seat of the brain. These recollections of our past are
usually important events, people we care about, and places where we
have spent time. Music and even weather can also be strong triggers
of nostalgia.
Nostalgia's
definition has changed greatly over time, as it was once considered a
medical condition similar to homesickness. Now, however, is
considered to be an independent, and even positive emotion that many
people experience often. Occasional nostalgia has been found to have
many functions, such as improve mood, increase social connectedness,
enhance positive self-regard, and provide existential meaning.
Although nostalgia is often triggered by negative feelings, it
results in increasing one's mood and heightening positive emotions.
Nostalgia is
also triggered by feelings of loneliness, but counteracts such
feelings with reflections of close relationships. According to one
study lonely people often have lesser perceptions of social support
which leads to nostalgia, but actually increases perceptions of
social support. It's a coping mechanism that helps people to feel
better. Studies found that the subjects who thought of nostalgic
memories showed greater positive characteristics than those who
thought of exciting future experiences. Researchers found that
participants who were not exposed to nostalgic experiences
reflected a pattern of selfish and self-centered attributes but this
effect had weakened and become less powerful among the participants
who engaged in nostalgic reflection.
Nostalgia helps
increase one's self-esteem and meaning in life by buffering threats
to well-being and also by initiating a desire to deal with problems
or stress. It also makes people more willing to engage in
growth-oriented behaviors and encourages them to view themselves as
growth-oriented people. Also, reliving past memories may provide
comfort and contribute to mental health. Researchers also looked at
the physiological effects thinking about past 'good' memories can
have. They found that thinking about the past 'fondly' actually
increased perceptions of physical warmth
There is a down
side though. Some forms of nostalgia can become a defense mechanism
by which people avoid the historical facts.
Closely related
to nostalgia is homesickness which is distress or impairment caused
by an actual or anticipated separation from home and it consists of
preoccupying thoughts of home and attachment objects. Sufferers
typically report a combination of depressive and anxious symptoms,
withdrawn behavior and difficulty focusing on topics unrelated to
home.
In its mild
form, homesickness prompts the development of coping skills and
motivates healthy attachment behaviors, such as renewing contact with
loved ones. While common in nearly everyone, intense homesickness
can be painful and debilitating.
Homesickness is
an ancient phenomenon, mentioned in both the Old Testament book of
Exodus and Psalms. Homer's Odyssey mentions is and the Greek
physician Hippocrates believed that homesickness was caused by too
much black bile in the blood. Also, there was a time when
homesickness was actually though to be caused by a brain lesion!
In recent
history homesickness is first mentioned with Swiss people being
abroad in Europe. A normal phenomenon among the many Swiss
mercenaries serving across Europe, it was not uncommon for them to
suffer from homesickness. This phenomenon was first only thought to
affect only Swiss people until thinking was revised as a result of a
big migration across Europe when it was realized homesickness was
common. American history describes experiences of homesickness in
colonists, immigrants, gold miners, soldiers, explorers and others
spending time away from home.
Homesickness is
now known to be a normal thing that reflects the strength of a
person's attachment to home, native culture and loved ones, as well
as their ability to regulate their emotions and adjust to new
situations.
Homesickness is
not to be confused with separation anxiety disorder which is
characterized by inappropriate and excessive fear or anxiety
concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached.
These days
advertisers have figured out how to use nostalgia to sell their
products.
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