Nostalgia as a psychological resource for a meaningful life

Abstract

Nostalgia is a mostly positive emotional experience that involves reminiscing about personally significant events and/or social relationships. A growing literature indicates that nostalgic reflection generally promotes well-being. This chapter focuses on how nostalgia promotes well-being by functioning as a resource for meaning in life. First, we discuss research demonstrating that nostalgic memories are meaningful memories and that reflecting on nostalgic memories bolsters a sense of meaning in life. Moreover, we review evidence that nostalgia is a psychological resource that people turn to when experiencing meaning deficits. Further, nostalgia functions to buffer existential threats and mitigate the negative consequences of lack of meaning. Finally, we discuss research suggesting that nostalgia encourages the pursuit of the good life by energizing meaning-making efforts of authenticity, self-growth, and interpersonal connection.