The Science of Loneliness and Belonging
Why belonging matters as much as it does, and what loneliness does to a person. A route through connection, isolation, and the bids that rebuild it.
8 steps · roughly 24 minutes to read · Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA
Belonging
Belonging is the felt sense of being accepted and mattering to others.
Social Support
Social support is the care and help our relationships provide when we need it.
Social Isolation
Social isolation is a lack of meaningful social contact and connection.
Loneliness
Loneliness is distress from a gap between the connection you have and the connection you want.
Ostracism
Ostracism is the pain of being ignored or excluded by others.
Rejection Sensitivity
Rejection sensitivity is anxiously expecting and overreading rejection in others.
Bids for Connection
A bid for connection is a small reach that asks to be met.
Co-Regulation
Co-regulation is borrowing another person's steadiness until your own returns.