Searching for Ithaca: The geography and psychological benefits of nostalgic places

Abstract

What are the places for which people are most nostalgic? We explored the physical and psychological characteristics of places that evoke nostalgia. In Study 1 (N = 200 U.K. residents), we used self-reports and dictionary methods to capture the diversity of such places. Blue landscapes, located near sea, ocean, rivers, or lakes, emerged as the most frequent nostalgic places. In Studies 2 (N = 398 U.S. residents) and 3 (N = 400 U.S. residents), we experimentally contrasted nostalgic places against ordinary ones. Self-reports, language, and geolocation data painted the portrait of typical nostalgic places: Set in a blue landscape, they vary in size between a building and a town, and are less grey and more green than ordinary places. Nostalgic places are further away from one’s current location, yet they appear psychologically closer than ordinary ones. Place nostalgia (vs. control) furthermore increases social connectedness, meaning in life, self-continuity, self-esteem, and authenticity. Future research could examine place nostalgia across different geographies, cultures, or countries.