Navigation Links
People not always needed to alleviate loneliness
Date:1/18/2008

New research at the University of Chicago finds evidence for a clever way that people manage to alleviate the pain of loneliness: They create people in their surroundings to keep them company.

Biological reproduction is not a very efficient way to alleviate ones loneliness, but you can make up people when youre motivated to do so, said Nicholas Epley, Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicagos Graduate School of Business. When people lack a sense of connection with other people, they are more likely to see their pets, gadgets or gods as human-like.

Social scientists call this tendency anthropomorphism. As a research topic, the phenomenon carries important therapeutic and societal implications, Epley said. He and his co-authors will publish their findings on anthropomorphism in the February issue of the journal Psychological Science. Also contributing to the research were Scott Akalis of Harvard University and the University of Chicagos Adam Waytz and John Cacioppo.

The behaviors they describe in the paper are not limited to the lonely. Nevertheless, they are well-known to casual observers, from the stereotype of the woman who lives alone surrounded by her menagerie of cats, to the movie portrayal of a tropical island castaway.

In the movie Castaway, Tom Hanks was isolated on an island and found the social desolation to be one of the most daunting challenges with which he had to deal, said Cacioppo, the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor in Psychology at the University of Chicago.

He did so, in part, by anthropomorphizing a volleyball, Wilson, who became his friend and confidant while he was on the island. Although fictional, Castaway depicts a deep truth about the irrepressibly social nature of Homo sapiens, Cacioppo said.

The researchers designed three experiments to test their expectations that lonely people are more likely to make up for their lac
'/>"/>

Contact: Steve Koppes
skoppes@uchicago.edu
773-702-8366
University of Chicago
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Plants can be used to study how and why people respond differently to drugs
2. Fungus genome yielding answers to protect grains, people and animals
3. People who skip meals: are they better off?
4. Energy drinks may pose risks for people with high blood pressure, heart disease
5. Ozone can affect heavier people more
6. Rising food prices threaten worlds poor people
7. New study finds biodiversity conservation secures ecosystem services for people
8. 100 percent of people carry at least 1 type of pesticide
9. Half of the people suffering from head injuries fake to receive financial help
10. Stronger EPA leadership needed to improve water quality in Mississippi River
11. Everglades phosphorus limits on the right track, but more is needed
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
People not always needed to alleviate loneliness
(Date:7/23/2014)... rely on sophisticated equipment, trained personnel, and detection ... against terrorist attacks. A revolutionary new electronic chip ... their job much easier. , The groundbreaking nanotechnology-inspired ... Aviv University ,s School of Chemistry and Center ... Herzliya company Tracense, picks up the scent of ...
(Date:7/23/2014)... and blood-brain barrier damage appear after cerebral ... Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is able to degrade the ... cerebral blood vessels and to mediate extracellular ... colleagues from the First Affiliated Hospital of ... induced cerebral infarction in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive ...
(Date:7/23/2014)... Scientists with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station are working ... after new research based on genetic monitoring has found ... New England have become more isolated and seen a ... endangered New England cottontail is now is at risk ... Agricultural Experiment Station researchers at the University of New ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Nano-sized chip "sniffs out" explosives far better than trained dogs 2UNH NHAES researchers work to save endangered New England cottontail 2UNH NHAES researchers work to save endangered New England cottontail 3
... The ubiquitous and usually harmless E. coli bacterium, which ... has more than 1,000 of them involved in metabolism ... genes would theoretically be capable of generating a huge ... report in the Dec. 27 issue of Proceedings of ...
... medical doctor. Yet he is seen as a hero by ... was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. , "In 2000 he ... months to live," said Pardini, a professor of biochemistry and ... University of Nevada, Reno. "But five years later, he ...
... great challenges for treating Parkinson's diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders ... , The brain is a complex organ with many different ... a protective barrier erected by blood vessels and glial cells ... the delivery of most drugs from the bloodstream. , But ...
Cached Biology News:How E. coli bacterium generates simplicity from complexity 2How E. coli bacterium generates simplicity from complexity 3The nude mouse tale: Omega-3 fats save the life of a terminal cancer patient 2Engineered Stem Cells Show Promise For Sneaking Drugs Into The Brain 2Engineered Stem Cells Show Promise For Sneaking Drugs Into The Brain 3
(Date:7/23/2014)... TEL AVIV, Israel , July 23, 2014 ... Ltd ., a portfolio company of Trendlines ... with one of Israel,s ... (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140121/666259-a) , Valentis,s technology combines ... from plant pulp waste, with additional nanoparticles to ...
(Date:7/23/2014)... , July 23, 2014 regulated information -- UCB ... and development pipeline with positive topline results from ... . This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy ... 200 mg/day, without titration) compared to placebo, as ... partial-onset seizures, not fully controlled despite treatment with ...
(Date:7/23/2014)... PARK, Calif. , July 23, 2014  Sofinnova ... investment firm, today announced the closing of Sofinnova Venture ... million and in excess of the initial fund target ... helping entrepreneurs build successful biotechnology companies. Consistent with recent ... with promising later stage clinical programs, along with select ...
(Date:7/23/2014)... July 23, 2014 OncLive® is ... Center has joined its Strategic Alliance Partnership program. ... Partnership program, UNC Lineberger will have the opportunity ... awareness of its cutting-edge research initiatives, community-directed cancer ... Lineberger will work with OncLive to educate their ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Valentis Nanotech Signs MOU to Integrate Technology in Thermoplastics Production 2Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 2Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 3Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 4Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 5Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 6Major advance in UCB pipeline: positive topline Phase 3 results for brivaracetam in epilepsy patients with partial-onset seizures 7Sofinnova Raises $500 Million Biotech Venture Fund 2OncLive Expands Its Strategic Alliance Partnership Program With the Addition of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 2OncLive Expands Its Strategic Alliance Partnership Program With the Addition of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 3
... , CORALVILLE, Iowa, Nov. 17 Vivakor, Inc. (OTC ... approved a dividend of shares of common stock of HealthAmerica, ... of the outstanding common stock. Each Vivakor shareholder will ... for each share of Vivakor common stock beneficially owned on ...
... Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR ) today provided a financial ... , (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO ) , ... loss of $5,096,983, or $0.15 per share, compared with a net ... period. The increase was due to a non-cash charge related to ...
... LEIDEN, The Netherlands, November 17 ... with Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd,Erasmus Medical Centre and Maastricht ... hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated vascular,complications such as ... novel action mechanisms, new drugs may be discovered with,the ...
Cached Biology Technology:Vivakor, Inc. Announces Stock Dividend 2Vivakor, Inc. Announces Stock Dividend 3Vivakor, Inc. Announces Stock Dividend 4Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 2Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 3Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 4Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 5Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 6Neuralstem, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update 7New Consortium Paves the way for Improved Treatment of Hypertension and Associated Vascular Complications 2
ANTI STENOTROPHOMONAS MALTOPHILIA...
... an essential component of the COP9 signalosome ... cellular and developmental processes. The CSN complex ... (Ubl) conjugation pathway by mediating the deneddylation ... ligase complexes. The complex is also involved ...
6B9...
Taq DNA Polymerase (T. aquaticus), 250 units. For PCR and other procedures requiring DNA polymerase activity at elevated temperatures. Category: Nucleotides & Enzymes & Biochemicals, Modifying Enzyme...
Biology Products: