February 2009

The University of Chicago recently presented the results of their groundbreaking study on loneliness, social isolation and the behavior of the brain at a major psychological conference.  The amazing results of the study are leading psychologists to a new approach to the study of social isolation.

Loneliness affects many of today’s women, regardless of their social situation, and can be a vicious circle.  Lonely people feel less comfortable and relaxed around others, therefor making it harder to integrate into a group or form friendships, and so continuing the cycle of social isolation.  There are a number of behavioural and social explanations for this, but this recent study implies that there may also be biological reasons.  Loneliness is not something which just affects people who do not have a network of people around them.