Paul Janet's Use Of Nostalgia Research

A theory by Paul Janet in 1897 suggests that the passage of time speeds up with familiarity, which explain why children would perceive a time period of say, three months, to be much longer than what an adult would perceive it to be. Children feel that growing up takes a long time, but their parents often feel that their children have grown up in the blink of an eye, and may often lament at that, wishing time could rewind so that they could be little, and cradled in their arms again. Such a yearning for the past is not uncommon, for people take comfort in the past instead of the uncertain future. Even with a fast-paced life and a constant strive for a better future, nostalgia remains in many, and it is often used as a way to unite the people

People are constantly on the move for the purposes of work, which is strongly emphasised in the country as the only ‘natural resource’ we possess is that of human capital. Our time has become more monetised as they can be put to producing more output for the country, and is deemed to be worthy in an economic sense, since people need their salaries to support themselves in a city with a high cost of living. It justifies the country and its people’s common goal of being productive, as it not only benefits Singapore in terms of economic development, but also benefits individuals in terms of their economic wealth. With lives seemingly dictated by work, Singaporeans are often accused of being ‘indifferent’, ‘unfeeling’, and was also rated low on the Happiness Index. It does seem as though the hastened pace of living has diluted our emotions or reduced one’s emotional capacity, especially since the nation’s stance of pragmatism is rather deeply ingrained in many Singaporeans. As such, Singaporeans may be seen as people who do not live in the past nor yearn for it, as they are simply too busy too afford it. They live in the present, and looking back may serve little or no benefits in their life. Of course, while this may not be true for every individual, it is worth considering how emotions may be eroded by one’s lifestyle, inhibiting their desire to connect with the past. hence, nostalgia may be deemed as lacking purpose in Singapore, and has no place nor value