Vitamin S: why is social contact, even with strangers, so important to well-being?
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Abstract
Even before COVID-19, it was well known in psychological science that people’s well-being is strongly served by the quality of their close relationships. But is well-being also served by social contact with people who are known less well? In this article, we discuss three propositions that support the conclusion that the benefits of social contact also derive from interactions with acquaintances and even strangers. The propositions state that most interaction situations with strangers are benign (Proposition 1), that most strangers are benign (Proposition 2), and that most interactions with strangers enhance well-being (Proposition 3). These propositions are supported, first, by recent research designed to illuminate the primary features of interaction situations. This research shows that situations with strangers often represent low conflict of interest. Also, in interactions with strangers, most people exhibit high levels of low-cost cooperation (social mindfulness) and, if the need is urgent, high levels of high-cost helping. We close by sharing research examples showing that even very subtle interactions with strangers yield short-term happiness. Broader implications for COVID-19 and urbanization are discussed.
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AI-based chatbots could be useful to add social experiences for some individuals, particularly those facing difficulties developing relationships on their own.
“At the same time, AI-based chatbots could be useful to add social experiences for some individuals (while not completely replacing human-to-human interaction), particularly for those facing difficulties developing relationships on their own (who need “Vitamin S,” from Social contact; (132), but are likely to be a poor or even dangerous replacement for human interaction writ large.”
From The impact of generative artificial intelligence on socioeconomic inequalities and policy making (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
AI-based chatbots are likely a poor or even dangerous replacement for human interaction writ large.
“At the same time, AI-based chatbots could be useful to add social experiences for some individuals (while not completely replacing human-to-human interaction), particularly for those facing difficulties developing relationships on their own (who need “Vitamin S,” from Social contact; (132), but are likely to be a poor or even dangerous replacement for human interaction writ large.”
From The impact of generative artificial intelligence on socioeconomic inequalities and policy making (2024) · cites this paper as [132]
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Bryant, L. E., Klass, J., & Chopik, W. J. (2026) · Communication Teacher · doi:10.1080/17404622.2026.2677539
HeartSway: Exploring Biodata as Poetic Traces in Public Space
Huang, Z., Guo, Z., Li, X., Ma, X., & Howell, N. (2026) · Designing Interactive Systems Conference · doi:10.1145/3800645.3813022
Botella-Navas, M., Cubero-Plazas, L., Privado, J., Sancho-Cantus, D., Cunha-Pérez, C., & Castellano-Rioja, E. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16081411
Misjudged moments: Forecasting bias in minimal social interactions and its role in daily happiness
Özer, C., Ascigil, E., Günaydın, G., & Selçuk, E. (2026) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2026.2714539
Short Replies as Partial Ostracism: How Receiving Bare‐Minimum Engagement Threatens Basic Needs
Mohammadi, S., & Hales, A. H. (2026) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.70105
von Heimburg, D., Friesinger, J. G., Prilleltensky, I., Ness, O., Strømland, M., & Vederhus, J. (2026) · Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/casp.70339
Happiness Loves Company? Positive Affect and the Momentary Social Context
Goldman, A. W., & Moorman, S. M. (2026) · Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World · doi:10.1177/23780231261483803
- Authors
- Van Lange, P. A. M., & Columbus, S.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam (IBBA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-05-27
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 267-273
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W3161700653
- Cited by
- 81
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5
- FWCI
- 12.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- St Andrews Research Repository (St Andrews Research Repository) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- social contact, strangers, well-being, happiness, close relationships, social mindfulness, helping behavior, conflicts of interest, urbanization, COVID-19 pandemic
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