by Stefanie Chow

Created on: July 27, 2009

Why do we dwell on our past? Most individuals would respond: "Because it makes us who we are." While this is true, there are much deeper philosophical and psychoanalytical approaches to this question. During the Enlightenment period, philosopher John Locke introduced the idea of tabula rasa, or "blank slate." Locke popularized the idea that all human minds are born as blank slates, without any knowledge of the world. Through experience, we gather information about our friends, family, and general environment, forming our past. Starting from the instant we are born (symbolized by tabula rasa), individuals constantly change. Moments in life that have the most significant impact on our personality or mentality are ingrained the deepest into our minds. We often dwell on these points of change, whether or not we realize their importance. Although "dwelling" on the past holds a negative connotation, can this also be a positive thought process?

Mental Associations: Most individuals consciously realize that certain people, places, and objects trigger memories from their past. Evolutionarily, primates relied on their five senses to remember scents of danger or sights of predators. These tools serve more culturally-developed purposes in humans, such as recalling significant events and recognizing various items. We dwell on the past, due to constant recognition of specific people, places, or objects, such as an oak tree from childhood or a particular romantic location from a prior relationship. The process of recalling is often followed by reminiscing. If a particular object held importance to an individual, he or she is likely to mentally relive the instance where the object served a purpose to his or her life, no matter how trivial. Dwelling on the past receives its negative connotation when remembrance of past events consumes the individual's mind in the form of regret or tragic nostalgia. Revisiting the room of a deceased family member or a gift from a previous romantic interest may stimulate the inability to let go of those memories and associations.

Emotional Connections: The past is significant, because it not only shows who we are, but also how we became who we are. Each memorable person, place, or pet has somehow helped to develop our emotional character. The change we endure as a result solidifies a correlation between a particular emotion and certain scenarios. Whereas specific entities are associated with the past, different memories can usually be triggered

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