Nostalgia: quick facts
Nostalgia is a bittersweet emotion that blends fondness for the past with a sense of its loss. It is often triggered by sensory cues such as a song, a smell, or an old photograph that connects the present moment to an…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Neutral
Emotion family / blend
Longing
Typical triggers
Music, scents, photographs, anniversaries, returning to old places
How it's expressed
Soft smile, distant gaze, sighing, reflective speech
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.