Why rewatching Harry Potter and Star Wars is actually good for you

Though it plays such a big role in entertainment and aesthetic preferences, nostalgia is often painted as a bad thing — or a fun but unproductive distraction. Critics have characterized it as a barrier to progress: To make the world a better place, they say, we need to focus on the present and the future, not reminisce about the good old days. To them, nostalgia might even cause people to be discontent with the present and pessimistic about the future. Critics might conjure up a middle-aged man who constantly talks about his glory days as the captain of the high-school football team, complains about how they don't make things like they used to, and resists efforts at his workplace to introduce new technologies.

But a growing body of scientific research tells a different story. Nostalgia, it turns out, promotes progress, helps people resolve their dissatisfaction, and encourages feelings of hope. In fact, nostalgia is more about envisioning the future than longing for the past.

When I started to research the psychology of nostalgia more than 20 years ago, I wanted to explore how our longing for the past might serve as a kind of defense mechanism against that anxiety. My hypothesis was that nostalgic reflection — looking at photos of past vacations, cooking an old family recipe, or rewatching a favorite childhood film — provides solace when people are fearful about the future. There's now a considerable amount of evidence to support this idea. For one, we found that when people spent a few minutes thinking pessimistically about the future of their relationships, they felt more nostalgic. We've also found that news stories about natural disasters sparked negative emotions, which then increased feelings of nostalgia. In survey studies, people reported feeling more nostalgic for the past when they were going through difficult events that threatened their well-being and made the future look dark — things like losing a job, being in poor health, going through a divorce, and grieving the death of a loved one. When people are worried about the future, and when they're experiencing distress in the present, they tend to become more nostalgic.

But does nostalgia keep people stuck in the past? When we looked at the connection between nostalgia and loneliness, we found that it didn't. Studies indicate that feeling lonely increases nostalgia and that nostalgia, in turn, increases feelings of social connectedness. In one experiment we conducted, participants were randomly assigned to spend a few minutes thinking about a memory that made them feel a sentimental longing for the past or a memory of an experience they considered typical. We then asked them how confident or motivated they felt to achieve social goals, solve relationship problem scenarios, or meet new people. The participants who'd thought of a nostalgic memory felt more confident about achieving social goals and solving relationship problems and were more motivated to pursue their social goals than those who'd thought of an ordinary memory. In other words, nostalgia doesn't just ease the pain of loneliness; it helps people resolve it and move forward.

More broadly, studies have found that nostalgic reflection increases feelings of inspiration, encourages an optimistic attitude about the future, improves self-esteem, boosts creativity, and fosters the motivation to pursue important life goals. Thinking about cherished experiences that have made our lives fulfilling can help elevate our sense of meaning and energize us to move forward with focus, agency, and generosity.

Everyone has different personality traits and experiences that make them more or less excited about a changing world. People who are always seeking out new ideas, experiences, and technologies are said to have high openness. Others prefer stability and aren't enthusiastic about the latest trends and emerging possibilities. For those who don't love change, it can cause a lot of stress. And when people are uncertain or anxious, they tend to be more rigid in their thinking and more resistant to change. That's where nostalgia can help. By countering these negative emotional states and inspiring a more positive attitude, nostalgia encourages openness to change. Studies have found that nostalgic reflection can increase openness to new ideas and experiences. Trips down memory lane may even play an important role in the development of new ideas and innovations by increasing creative thinking. It's even useful in the workplace: Studies have found that when employees spend a few minutes reflecting on a nostalgic work experience, they view their work as more meaningful and are less likely to want to quit. Critics of nostalgia likely don't realize that most people use their nostalgic memories in constructive ways to help them navigate an uncertain and dynamic world.

Most Americans have a positive view of nostalgia. In a recent survey conducted by our team at Archbridge Institute's Human Flourishing Lab, 84% of Americans agreed that their nostalgic memories served as a reminder of what's most important to them, 72% reported that nostalgic memories were a source of inspiration when life is difficult or uncertain, and nearly 60% said nostalgic memories offered guidance when they're unsure of which direction to take. Americans 45 and older were more likely than those under 45 to view nostalgic memories as reminders of what's important and as sources of inspiration and guidance. That isn't surprising; older adults have more life experiences to draw from. However, our survey found that the majority of American adults in every age group shared this positive and, ultimately, future-oriented view of nostalgia.

In my new book, "Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life," I explain that people can harness the power of nostalgia by examining their own nostalgia. If you find yourself thinking the past was generally better than the present, try writing down the specific aspects you think were superior — why do you think they were better? I've talked to numerous entrepreneurs and artists striving to create something unique and innovative. Every one of them has stories of nostalgic inspiration — life experiences that sparked their passion.

Our sentimentality about the past, if used wisely, can be a powerful tool for improving our lives and advancing human progress.

Clay Routledge is vice president of research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute, and author of the book, Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life.