The ’90s hold a special place in people’s hearts, and many cultural trends from that time remain prevalent today. For one, fashion statements like grunge-era flannel shirts and mid-rise jeans for women have made a comeback. 

Interior design trends from the 1990s are also back. Many people have incorporated metal fixtures and oak cabinets that were popular during the decade but have tweaked them to fit 2024 standards. 

Some TV shows from back then are still popular among today’s younger audiences. Lecturer Dr. Renee Middlemost explained why in an interview with the University of Wollongong, Australia. 

“Why the internet generation wants to watch reruns of Friends and Seinfeld I think goes back to the nostalgia of things - when you’re feeling dark about the world you go back to the things that make you feel better.”

But apart from returning to a time that made you feel better, psychology professor Dr. Krystine Batcho also noted that nostalgia is about celebrating the good times. 

“It’s just that you can feel nostalgia more intensely during more dramatic parts of your life, like when you’re undergoing some sort of transformation, transition or decision making,” she explained in an interview with Bustle.

Dr. Batcho adds that looking back to a simpler time doesn’t necessarily mean you want to turn back the clock. Instead, it’s about refreshing ourselves with fond memories. 

“When people want to remember who they were, it would be socially unacceptable to carry an old teddy bear or Barbie doll around with you. 

“So a TV reboot serves as a nostalgic trigger that’s socially acceptable and not childish. It’s a recognition that it’s not about going back to the way things were, but updating the past and making it new again.”

Millennials experienced a transitional period in the ’90s, with many moving from childhood to teenage years. According to College of Charleston psychology professor Dr. Chelsea Reid, the memories of an innocent period in their lives allow people within this age group a smoother passage. 

“Transitions can be stressful, and nostalgia is a resource for the self, so [these shows are] one way to cope and adjust to those changes,” Dr. Reid said in the same Bustle interview.

The ’90s also saw a time when the world didn’t rely on digital technology. The internet was in its infancy and more about enjoying new innovations than anything else. 

“The 90s were the last period where the internet was more of a fun toy that we used to find music and videos,” existential psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge told the BBC. “Reminiscing about the 90s and 00s is comforting because it gives us connection to times in our lives where we felt more free, adventurous and connected to other people.”

Dr. Routledge’s studies focus on nostalgia, and he has written books about it. In one of his recent works, he explained what happens in our minds whenever we feel sentimental about the past. 

“If you look at how nostalgia is actually experienced, it’s not something that most people dwell on, or it’s not something that holds people back. It’s actually more of a source of inspiration.”

Dr. Routledge delved deeper into the topic in an article for Discourse Magazine. In it, he explained how nostalgia inspires confidence in a person. 

“Having lonely people spend time engaging in nostalgic reflection helps them appreciate that life is bigger than their current situation and reminds them that they have experienced socially fulfilling experiences in the past,” he wrote. 

“This has the effect of making them feel more socially confident in the present and more inspired to improve their social lives going forward by seeking to repair damaged relationships or cultivate new ones.”

Dr. Routledge says taking the time to stroll down memory lane can also spark creativity. Here’s his explanation: 

“Looking to the past for inspiration helps open new possibilities for the future. I have talked to many artists and entrepreneurs striving to innovate. Every one of them has a nostalgic memory or multiple nostalgic memories that have influenced their creative passion.”

In his books, Dr. Routledge recognized the power of nostalgia. While it may seem like we’re keeping ourselves stuck in the past, he sees it as the opposite. 

“It turns out the journey to the past that nostalgia takes us on is really about the present and the future. When we look for guidance and inspiration to build a better tomorrow, we need our cherished memories.”