Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection | 
 enlarge | Authors: John T. Cacioppo, William Patrick
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $14.50
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Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 15715
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 x 1
ISBN: 0393061701
Dewey Decimal Number: 155.92
EAN: 9780393061703
Publication Date: August 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A pioneering neuroscientist reveals the reasons for loneliness and what to do about it.
John T. Cacioppo's groundbreaking research topples one of the pillars of modern medicine and psychology: the focus on the individual as the unit of inquiry. By employing brain scans, monitoring blood pressure, and analyzing immune function, he demonstrates the overpowering influence of social context—a factor so strong that it can alter DNA replication. He defines an unrecognized syndrome—chronic loneliness—brings it out of the shadow of its cousin depression, and shows how this subjective sense of social isolation uniquely disrupts our perceptions, behavior, and physiology, becoming a trap that not only reinforces isolation but can also lead to early death. He gives the lie to the Hobbesian view of human nature as a "war of all against all," and he shows how social cooperation is, in fact, humanity's defining characteristic. Most important, he shows how we can break the trap of isolation for our benefit both as individuals and as a society. 12 illustrations.
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| Customer Reviews:
Shedding light on the pain that is loneliness... August 18, 2008
K. Freberg
30 out of 33 found this review helpful
From http://www.laurafreberg.com/blog
I just finished reading Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, which is coming out towards the end of August. The book summarizes, in very accessible terms, thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.
It's initially hard to get past the title. William Patrick, John's coauthor, relates how a friend reading an early manuscript found the word "loneliness" to be disturbing, even more so than "rape," "murder," or "death." This reaction fits perfectly with the major theme of the book-we humans are a very social bunch, and being cut off from other people, as in solitary confinement, might be the very worst punishment of all.
What I especially liked about the book is the constant, seamless integration of what we call "perspectives" in psychology, harkening back to William James. In other words, the neuroscience, social psychology, and cognitive science is all woven together so that you get the big picture. In other writing, John has compared psychology to a symphony, with the different perspectives contributing to the whole of our understanding just as the score, musicians, instruments, and conductor join together to produce fantastic music. He and William have definitely succeeded in bringing this integration to the study of loneliness. Given the all-too-frequent Balkanization of psychology into little subdomains, this approach is refreshing and informative.
Like William's friend, I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book. I don't consider myself a lonely person, as I am blessed by having a close family and good friends. But I know a lot of lonely people, and reading the various case studies brought these people to mind in a vivid way. The sad mood lifted, however, when John would throw in some of his modest and self-deprecating humor, as in his description of his trip to "Grenada." Enough said. You need to read the book to find out the rest.
In spite of the sober topic, I think many people will jump at the chance to learn more from this book. My mother-in-law, over at our house for lunch, snatched up my copy and asked to borrow it. My daughters are pre-ordering theirs on Amazon. Kristin has mentioned that loneliness is such a huge issue for her soldiers, not only while they deploy, but even more so when they return to families who can't begin to relate to the things they've seen and done in combat. She's hoping that John will take a look at the vulnerability of soldiers to PTSD as a function of their initial loneliness scores, following up on research listed on the Loneliness site.
Best of all, the authors do not stop after describing the origins and implications of loneliness. Instead, there is a careful, thoughtful, step-by-step approach to reducing one's own loneliness. Following the recommended steps is never presented as a magic bullet, or a quick fix, but just a practical way, grounded in good science, to move from point A to point B. No matter how lonely or not lonely you feel, there are suggestions here to make the social aspects of life more meaningful.
Finally, I'd like to end by pointing out that these authors really do practice what they preach. The website for Loneliness has a menu feature called "socialize." In one of the blog entries, William Patrick describes how John insisted that he should be a "full co-author," instead of receiving his usual credits.
For those of you on Facebook, hope you join the Science of Loneliness group. There's something inherently ironic about that statement, but I hope to see you there soon. --Laura Freberg
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection
Terrific Synthesis October 9, 2008
JOHN J. MCGRAW (Solana Beach, CA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is an excellent work that ties together research from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, social psychology, and endocrinology. The book presents all of this wonderful science in a way that is accessible to anyone with an interest in the impact of relationships on our well-being.
Cacioppo and Patrick should be commended for providing a model of the way in which science can be true to itself but also made popular for the benefit of the reading public. These authors are able to share some of the more significant insights that come from work in multiple fields in clear prose, light on academic jargon.
The book reads like a synthesis of 15 or so really good articles from Scientific American but are conveyed with a single vision and in an affable voice. Loneliness is a pleasant and interesting read that clearly demonstrates a key truth: we are not alone. The idea of the rugged individual is an absurd myth that has little basis in reality. As Aristotle noted long ago, we are essentially social creatures. We are born from interaction, develop through communal care, and are instinctively driven to gain the esteem of our companions. The pursuit of happiness and well-being must be a joint venture.
The ideas that Cacioppo and Patrick put forward about co-regulation and social dynamics help to break down the individualistic unit of analysis that has plagued a great deal of psychological research and philosophical inquiry. Moreover, this critique of the individualistic bias in scientific research goes a long way towards becoming a more general critique of modern society. The loss of many traditional forms of interrelatedness may be at the source of the malaise and health concerns that pester us all.
Thank you for this wonderful book September 9, 2008
Review
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I wanted to thank you and Dr. Patrick for your wonderful book,
Loneliness. I am in the process of reading it and had to put it
down for a moment to write this e-mail. I treat children who
are selectively mute and wrote an article on Selective Mutism
and Self-Regulation, published in the Clinical Social Work
Journal. I had thought that it was the lack of language usage
primarily that created their inability to self-regulate. While
I wrote in a few passing phrases that it was the use of language
in the dyadic relationship that helps to establish the ability
to self-regulate, since beginning to read your book I see that
it is the use of language in connection with others that helps
with this ability. As a result, this population's lack of
language usage that also leads to social isolation contributes
greatly to their inability to self-regulate emotions and
behaviors. Thank you and Dr. Patrick again for helping me to
conceptualize my work better.
All the best, Marian Moldan, LCSW-R
Solid science October 25, 2008
Knowledgeable Reader
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not an easy read, but worthwhile. Comprehensive use of evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to explain a lot of what causes psychic pain, as well as attraction and aversion in social settings. Demonstrates that loneliness may well be a more accurate and useful diagnosis than depression or anxiety. Well documented sources. Not an easy-to-read self-help book, but worth the effort because of the understanding that can result.
Interesting September 3, 2008
BookBargainsandPreviews.com (New York)
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection summarizes thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.
Reading this book was not always a good time. I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book, but the authors through in enough humor to lighten the tone.
Though it can be hard to get through at times, people can learn a lot from this book. The authors use a step-by-step approach to reducing a person's loneliness. It is worth the read.
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