By Oliver Serrano LeónEuropean University of the Canary Islands
It is a common place to hear that “any past time was better.” The phrase, which appears in the poem Coplas for the death of his father by Jorge Manrique, it reflects a nostalgia that crosses cultures and times. But is it an objective truth or a psychological construction?
Analyzing this myth from psychology allows us to understand what originates it and how it affects our perception of reality.
Nostalgia as a psychological mechanism
Nostalgia is a powerful emotion that Play an adaptive role: Connect with the roots, reinforces identity and provides comfort in moments of uncertainty. However, this look at the past is not always objective, since human memory tends to filter negative events. Is what is known as the “Positivity bias”.
For example, an childhood remembered as a time free of concerns can omit family conflicts or school stress, focusing solely on games and pleasant moments. This tendency to idealization can distort the perception of historical periods, generating the false belief that things were simpler or better.
The “pink” effect of memory
Psychology also explains that the past is idealized due to a selective memory. This effect, known as “Pink memory”, It is well documented: some studies reveal that people remember more optimism events than they really experienced.
A common example is music. Many people believe that their youth songs were superior to the current ones. However, various research They suggest that this attachment is more related to the emotional association than with the objective quality of the compositions. In addition, the media repetition of a certain music or cultural events of past decades reinforces this perception.
Cultural changes and threat perception
Another reason why the past is the anxiety generated by cultural changes. As people usually consider their training times as an ideal point of reference, as they age and society evolves perceives these changes as threats to their stability.
For example, although it is stated that technology has eroded interpersonal relationships, Recent studies They emphasize that digital platforms strengthen social links in unthinkable ways in the past.
Despite this, the nostalgic narrative about the “real conversations” ignores that each era has its own forms of interaction adapted to technological advances.
What about crises?
A common argument is that the crises we live seem more serious than those of the past. This perception is influenced by cognitive bias known as “Availability heuristics”. Current problems are more present because they live in real time, while those of the past are diluted in the temporal distance.
For example, although it is believed that it was previously lived in a safer world, the data contradict this idea: the homicide rate It has decreased significantly in much of the world since the 90s.
Likewise, the perception that natural catastrophes were less frequent in past times ignores the increase in media coverage in recent decades.
More psychological myths that embellish our memories
The following biases also contribute to the fact that we idealize the past:
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Confirmation bias. It leads to information that reaffirms previous beliefs, ignoring data that contradict them. When focusing on positive aspects, the idea is reinforced that “all past time was better.” This phenomenon is also reflected in social and political debates, where times perceived as more “ordered” are longed for without considering the inequalities or limitations of those times.
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“Sunk cost fallacy”. It induces to maintain ideas or decisions because a lot has already been invested in them, such as emotional attachment to traditions that perhaps are no longer functional in the present. This type of thought can influence resistance to social or technological change.
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Effect “Retrospective halo”. It occurs when the memories of a positive event make a whole time perceive as best than it really was. For example, someone could associate the 1980s with “best music and fashion”, ignoring problems such as economic crises or political conflicts that also defined that time.
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“Bias status quo” It leads to prefer that things remain as they are or as they were, under the wrong belief that change is always harmful. It influences how people look at the past with longing, interpreting social and technological evolution as a loss instead of a gain.
Reconfigure perspective
Accepting that the past was not necessarily better does not mean despising it. On the contrary, recognizing the limitations of memory allows you to appreciate the present more fully. Thus, the questioning of the myth opens the door to build a more balanced future.
For example, instead of regretting the “disconnection” caused by technology, this can be promoted to encourage more inclusive and accessible communities. In addition, being aware of cognitive biases allows you to address the current challenges with greater realism.
In the same way, assessing the advances achieved in health, education and human rights provides a more balanced perspective on progress.
Walking to a future without depending on idealizations
The myth that any past time was better is a deeply human narrative, rooted in psychology and culture. However, when examining it critically, we discover that it is more related to how it is remembered that with how it really was lived.
Challenging this idea allows to embrace the present with greater awareness and work towards a future that does not depend on idealizations.
This article was originally published in The conversation.
