Nostalgia Essay

The concept of nostalgia was first introduced by the Swiss physician Johannes Hofer in 1688. He created the name by combining the Greek words nostos and algos, which mean “return” and “suffering” respectively (“Why Does Nostalgia”). Although Hofer defined it, the idea of nostalgia was introduced even earlier in the writings of Shakespeare, Caesar, Hippocrates, and Homer (Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, and Routledge). He was inspired to coin the term after witnessing countless Swiss soldiers experiencing homesickness while at war. Symptoms associated with this homesick-induced nostalgia included bouts of weeping, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, anorexia, and insomnia (Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, and Routledge). However, by the early 19th century, people began viewing nostalgia as a medical disorder in the form of melancholia or depression instead. This notion eventually disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century when nostalgia earned its own definition apart from its negative legacy. Even though nostalgia is no longer widely associated with sickness, this does not mean that it is exempt from scrutiny by skeptics and researchers alike.

Nostalgia can be triggered by a variety of factors. It can occur when one listens to music or smells a certain scent (“Nostalgic Smells”). For example, someone may catch a whiff of freshly cut grass and suddenly recall the soccer games he or she used to play on the school field as a child. Nostalgia can also occur when “encountering a keepsake, engaging in conversations or by feeling lonely” (“Why Does Nostalgia”). Oftentimes businesses will capitalize on their consumers’ sense of nostalgia. For instance, toy companies often “bring back favorite childhood toys of an older demographic” and televisi...

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...s relationship with others. Through these studies, it is reinforced that nostalgia ‘is a prevalent and fundamental human experience—one that serves a number of key psychological functions” (Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, and Routledge).

Without nostalgia to remind us of the past, we would be lost in the tiresome hustle and bustle of our current society. Nostalgia is a source of hope and happiness for those who struggle with their day to day lives or merely wish to relive a memorable and enjoyable time from their past. Although burdensome, it is apparent that negativity is often present when one nostalgizes. However, one must look past the negatives as nostalgia functions best when channeled positively. Whatever the reason for recalling past events, it is evident that nostalgia brings with it a whirlwind of emotions that cannot be replicated through any other means.