5 little-known secrets from social neuroscience and COVID stress

Thursday, April 18, 2024.

What is social neuroscience?

Understanding Social Neuroscience: How Science Shapes Human Social and Biological Life

Social neuroscience is a burgeoning field that delves into the intricate connections between biology, behavior, and social interactions.

This interdisciplinary area of study sheds light on how genetic, cellular, hormonal, and neurologic pathways influence and moderate human social and biological impulses…

• Impact of Kindness on Human Nervous Systems:

  Research by Jamil Bhanji and Maurice Delgado revealed that acts of kindness, praise, gratitude, and encouragement have a profound impact on our nervous systems. These small gestures can be as rewarding as powerful non-social rewards like food or money, demonstrating the significance of kindness in fostering resilience and managing stress, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Loneliness and Social Rejection:

  Studies by Naomi Eisenberger and others highlight that the brain responds to loneliness and social rejection as if experiencing physical threats. This underscores the importance of social connections in maintaining a sense of safety and well-being, particularly during periods of heightened stress and isolation.

• The Power of Feeling Understood:

  Social neuroscience research emphasizes the importance of feeling understood in social interactions. Studies like those conducted by Morelli, Torre, and Eisenberger show that being understood activates brain regions associated with reward and satisfaction, highlighting the value of empathy and effective communication in relationships.

  Building Resilience Through Communication:

• Froma Walsh's framework for family resilience underscores the importance of open communication, seeking help when needed, and working collaboratively to solve problems. These strategies can help families and couples navigate challenges, including those brought about by COVID-19, and foster resilience.

• Benefits of Bestowing Kindness:

Research by Stephanie Brown and her team indicates that caregivers who attend to their partners for at least 14 hours a week experience lower mortality rates. This highlights the reciprocal nature of kindness and social support, suggesting that both receiving and giving support can have positive effects on health and well-being.

Final Thoughts

Social neuroscience provides valuable insights into human behavior and social interactions, offering a deeper understanding of how we connect with others and navigate life's challenges. By applying these insights, individuals and couples can enhance their relationships, build resilience, and promote overall well-being, especially during times of stress and uncertainty like the COVID pandemic.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

It’s time for science-based couples therapy online

RESEARCH:

Bhanji JP, Delgado MR. Perceived control influences neural responses to setbacks and promotes persistence. Neuron. 2014 Sep 17;83(6):1369-75. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.012. Epub 2014 Sep 4. PMID: 25199702; PMCID: PMC4169331.

Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J.H., (2011). Connected: The Surprising power for Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives-How Your friend’s friends Affect Everything You Feel, Think, and Do. New York, NY: Little, Brown & Co.

Eisenberger, N.I., Gable, S.L., & Lieberman, M.D. (2007). fMRI responses relate to differences in real-world social experience. Emotion, 7, 745-754.

Eisenberger, N.I., Way, B., Taylor, S.E., Welch, W.T., & Lieberman, M.D. (2007). Understanding genetic risk for aggression: Clues from the brain’s response to social exclusion. Biological Psychiatry, 61, 1100-1108.

Eisenberger, N.I., Taylor, S.E., Gable, S.L., Hilmert, C.J., & Lieberman, M.D. (2007). Neural pathways link social support to attenuated neuroendocrine stress responses. Neuroimage, 35, 1601-1612.

Eisenberger, N.I., Jarcho, J.M., Lieberman, M.D., & Naliboff, B. (2006). An experimental study of shared sensitivity to physical pain and social rejection. Pain, 126, 132-138.

Eisenberger, N.I. & Lieberman, M.D. (2004). Why rejection hurts: A common neural alarm system for physical and social pain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8, 294-300.

Eisenberger, N.I., Lieberman, M.D., & Williams, K.D. (2003).  Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302, 290-292.

Masten CL, Morelli SA, Eisenberger NI. An fMRI investigation of empathy for ‘social pain’ and subsequent prosocial behavior. Neuroimage. 2011 Mar 1;55(1):381-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.060. Epub 2010 Nov 28. PMID: 21122817.

Masten, A.S., (2001) Ordinary Magic: Resilience Processes in Development. American Psychologist, 56, 227-238.

Meghan L. Meyer, Kipling D. Williams, Naomi I. Eisenberger. Why Social Pain Can Live on: Different Neural Mechanisms Are Associated with Reliving Social and Physical Pain. Published: June 10, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128294

Morelli S.A., Torre J.B., Eisenberger N.I. The neural bases of feeling understood and not understood. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Dec;9(12):1890-6. doi: 10.1093/scan/nst191. Epub 2014 Jan 5. PMID: 24396002; PMCID: PMC4249470.