Have you ever felt the sting of being picked last in gym class? Researchers from the University of Southern California explored how we learn from rejection. Participants were asked to create personal profiles that were then “evaluated” by a computer. Different parts of the brain lit up when a person was accepted versus rejected. This suggests that we can learn that a disappointing outcome doesn’t mean someone does not care about you. This research could help people who struggle to connect socially. “For some people, struggles may come from not recognizing how much others value them, like in social anxiety disorder,” lead researcher Leor Hackel said. “Others may have trouble feeling motivated by social rewards, as seen in depression.” (Study Finds)
Phone Topic: What advice would you give someone who has trouble socializing?