here ' s a possible evolutionary reason for nostalgia Through my own experience , I have found that nostalgia is there to help you uproot the origins of your character , allowing you to see how you became the way you are . This allows you to value and discard parts of yourself that were once considered unchangeable and overlooked foundation . In turn , you make yourself and only to your standards more interesting and purposeful . These traits make you attractive for reproduction , and give of the sense that you would be a good parent , being able to understand and explain yourself . In terms of epistemology , understanding yourself makes life feel more meaningful , as your actions devoid from appearing random , making them feel and seem important . Nathan R i d d l e t h e r e a n e v o l u t i o n a r y o r o t h e r w i s e p u r p o s e f o r n o stalgiaanswerNathanRiddle