Broken Hearts and Broken Bones: A Neural Perspective on the Similarities Between Social and Physical Pain
Abstract
Although it is common to describe experiences of social rejection or loss with words typically reserved for physical pain, the idea that these social experiences might actually be experienced as painful seems more far-fetched. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates that social pain—the painful feelings following social rejection or loss—may rely on pain-related neural circuitry. Here, I summarize a program of research that has explored whether social pain relies on pain-related neural regions, as well as some of the expected consequences of a physical–social pain overlap. I also discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of social pain.
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Neural resources dedicated to pain processing were co-opted over the course of evolution to make the experience of social rejection particularly salient, motivating the maintenance of close social ties and ultimately promoting evolutionary fitness.
“This hypothesis suggests that neural resources dedicated to pain processing were co-opted over the course of evolution to make the experience of social rejection particularly salient, motivating the maintenance of close social ties and ultimately promoting evolutionary fitness (Baumeister and Leary, 1995; Eisenberger, 2012).”
From Feeling left out or just surprised? Neural correlates of social exclusion and overinclusion in adolescence (2020) · cites this paper as Eisenberger, 2012
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The affiliative power of others' pain online
Mitchell, J., Occhipinti, S., & Oaten, M. (2022) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12941 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
PISTAS IMPLÍCITAS E OBESIDADE: ESTRATÉGIAS DE PROTEÇÃO CONTRA O MARKETING DE ALIMENTOS
David, I. A., Krutman, L., Andrade, J. R. D., Araújo, R. L., Braga, F., Gomes, F. D. S., Pereira, M. G., Oliveira, L., Gleiser, S., Fernández‐Santaella, M. C., et al. (2016) · DEMETRA Alimentação Nutrição & Saúde · doi:10.12957/demetra.2016.21777 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
NeuroLeadership in 2011 and 2012
Al, H., Ringleb, Rock, C. D., & Ancona (2011) · Cited by 3 · see citing works
From Loneliness to Belonging Post Pandemic
Carter, A. D., & Shienko, L. (2023) · Advances in social networking and online communities book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-6684-5190-8.ch011 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Dönmez, Y. N., Giray, D., Epçaçan, S., & Yalçın, S. S. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05527-3 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
School belonging as an essential component of positive psychology in schools
Allen, K., Boyle, C., Wong, D., Johnson, R. G., & May, F. (2022) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003228158-21 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Social exclusion enhances affiliative signaling
Philipp, M. C., Bernstein, M. J., Vanman, E. J., & Johnston, L. C. (2020) · The Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/00224545.2020.1854648 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Brain structure and function and social exclusion reactivity in the Cyberball game
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Harvey, A. R. (2023) · Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health · doi:10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100586 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Misery Implicitly Loves Company: Implicit Homophily and Bully Victimization
Saraf, Y., Khalil, L., Willis, J., Yim, S., Disler, G., Li, J., & Zeb, T. B. A. (2021) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440211038360 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Quand nos émotions sont-elles raisonnables ?
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Affective Coping Among Individuals Reporting a History of Rejection
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On the Origin of Shame: Feelings of Disgust toward the Self
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The affective cost of spending: neuroeconomic and experimental evidence on the pain of paying
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Pain Regulation in Nonsuicidal Self-injury
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- Authors
- Eisenberger, N. I.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Eisenberger, Naomi I.
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-01-31
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 42-47
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W2161577472
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 18.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- social pain, social rejection, loss, bodily pain, emotional pain
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