Social Pain: Neuropsychological and Health Implications of Loss and Exclusion »

"Social pain is the experience of pain as a result of interpersonal rejection or loss, such as rejection from a social group, bullying, or the loss of a loved one. Research now shows that social pain results from the activation of certain components in physical pain systems. Although social, clinical, health, and developmental psychologists have each explored aspects of social pain, recent work from the neurosciences provides a coherent, unifying framework for integrative research." This edited volume provides the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary exploration of social pain. Part I examines the subject from a neuroscience perspective, outlining the evolutionary basis of social pain and tracing the genetic, neurological, and physiological underpinnings of the phenomenon. Part II explores the implications of social pain for functioning in interpersonal relationships; contributions examine the influence of painkillers on social emotions, the ability to relive past social hurts, and the relation of social pain to experiences of intimacy. Part III examines social pain from a biopsychosocial perspective in its consideration of the health implications of social pain, outlining the role of stress in social pain and the potential long-term health consequences of bullying. The book concludes with an integrative review of these diverse perspectives.

Contributors

Introduction: Experiencing the Ache of Social Injuries---An Integrative Approach to Understanding Social Pain Geoff MacDonald MacDonald, Geoff 3

I Neurologicla and Physiological Bases of Social Pain 9

Chapter 1 The Neurobilogy of Social Loss in Animals: Some Keys to the Puzzle of Psychic Pain in Humans Jaak Panksepp Panksepp, Jaak 11

Chapter 2 The Neural Basis of Social Pain: Findings and Implications Naomi I. Eisenberger Eisenberger, Naomi I. 53

Chapter 3 Physcological Responses to Experiences of Social Pain Sally S. Dickerson Dickerson, Sally S. 79

Chapter 4 Genetic Factors in Social Pain Shelley E. Taylor Taylor, Shelley E. 95

II Social Pain in Interpersonal Relationships 121

Chapter 5 Acetaminophen Dulls Psychological Pain Timothy Deckman Deckman, Timothy 123

Chapter 6 Defensive Avoidance of Social Pain via Perceptions of Social Threat and Reward Stephanie S. Spielmann Spielmann, Stephanie S. 141

Chapter 7 Social Pain Is Easily Relived and Prelived, but Physical Pain Is Not Kipling D. Williams Williams, Kipling D. 161

III Health Consequences of Social Pain 179

Chapter 8 The Biopsychosocial Perspective of Pain and Emotion Nancy D. Kishino Kishino, Nancy D. 181

Chapter 9 Social Stressors, Social Pain, and Health Angela Liegey Dougall Dougall, Angela Liegey 193

Chapter 10 Bullying and Its Long-Term Health Implications Lauri A. Jensen-Campbell Jensen-Campbell, Lauri A. 215

Conclusion: Social Pain Research---Accomplishments and Challenges Lauri A. Jensen-Campbell Jensen-Campbell, Lauri A. 237

Index 243

About the Editors 257