Nostalgia

Research from earlier years has shown that nostalgia can increase one's self esteem, boost perceptions of meaning in life, and bring up a sense of social connectedness. Nostalgia is a yearning or want for the past, be it a good event or a bad one. In studies, nostalgia has shown to increase the amount of charity donations, such as for an earthquake that may relate to the donor's past. Nostalgia, in this case, increases empathy for others. Strangely, however, nostalgia has been regarded as a negative emotion for several hundred years.