Probably, almost every person has met with the statement that it was better before and "where is this world heading." Perhaps we ourselves are carriers of similar views. Nevertheless, objectively it seems strange that each subsequent historical period becomes worse and worse. Maybe this is a stereotype of perception?
Indeed, every time you hear about something that was better before, a slight bewilderment arises. We have lived through many critical and even tragic situations in our common destiny. Over the past 100 years, there have been revolutions, and collectivization, and repressions, and wars, and much more objectively more complex and worse than the present time, which is also difficult in its own way.
Surprisingly, such sayings were in use both 50 and 100 years ago and, apparently, during the entire period of human existence. Therefore, it is not the world that is deteriorating, but for some reason people perceive time in their own way, subjectively. What could be the reasons for this perception?
As a rule, those who can compare different times say that life was better before, which means that people are no longer young, at least mature or even elderly. If we consider their personal history, it becomes clear that their youth fell into the period that they consider the best, because youth is always hope, an excess of strength and faith in life. Perhaps their perception, which was better before, is connected precisely with the personal perception of that time, which coincided with a more prosperous period in their personal history. The present time, which, in their words, “is much worse than before,” simply fell on that period in life when disappointments and problems were accumulated, and accordingly, much is subjectively perceived in black tones.
Whatever the time, it has its own opportunities for development, as well as its difficulties. A person in his youth can simply adapt better and fit into his time, which he then considers the best. Issues are easier to solve, more drive, and many difficulties, which are now understood as problems, were perceived as a challenge in youth.
There is also one more factor to be noted. A person is formed by the culture that surrounds him in childhood and, to a lesser extent, in his youth. This is the mentality, values, ideals, peculiarities of relationships, the specifics of communication between people and much of what is inherent in this particular time. All these features become familiar to him and, as it were, are imprinted on him very deeply.
But what if another time comes when norms and values change dramatically? In this case, the person may feel unnecessary or “out of place”. This is not his world, not his culture, he feels like a stranger among those who are just beginning to greedily absorb the new time. It is obvious that at the same time he feels the past time period as something more familiar and begins to fall into nostalgia for "good times."
Each new generation lives in a slightly new world compared to the previous one. It is enough to feel the difference in the perception of the life of a generation before and after perestroika. How have songs, films, books, fashion changed?
In addition, the perception of life and one's place in it is also influenced by the state of health, which worsens over the years, and therefore makes its own negative contribution.
Nostalgia for the past can also arise as a result of an age crisis, on the passage of which the further perception of oneself and the surrounding world depends.
Thus, in this issue, the key factor is the subjectivity of the perception of reality, and not the real deterioration of the state of our world.
