PDA

View Full Version : Loneliness Can Be Contagious !


ROLCAM
Feb 9, 2010, 09:08 AM
Is this a true fact?
Please share your experiences.

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 09:11 AM
No, that statement fails logically.

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 09:40 AM
Actually, a recent study, by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago found that loneliness is contagious. Here is a link to Science News where you can read more about it: Loneliness Is Contagious, Study Suggests - Science News (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/50200/title/Loneliness_is_contagious,_study_suggests)

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 09:49 AM
That study is odd to say the least. It also mentions that not all scientists are sold on the methodology used. It appears that lonely people make loose ties with others of their kind then cut those ties.

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 09:53 AM
Actually, a recent study, by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago found that loneliness is contagious. Here is a link to Science News where you can read more about it: Loneliness Is Contagious, Study Suggests - Science News (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/50200/title/Loneliness_is_contagious,_study_suggests)
Lots of "can"s and "suggest"s in that article. I don't believe the conclusion, "leaving their former friends less well-connected and more likely to mistrust the world themselves," is what happens. My observation has been that "former friends" cement the current positive relationships they have and move into new positive ones.

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 10:12 AM
My opinion is that unless someone is suffering from depression, loneliness is a choice. But, I also believe that people who suffer from boredom are, themselves, boring.

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 10:18 AM
my personal opinion is that unless someone is suffering from depression, loneliness is a choice. But, I also believe that people who suffer from boredom are, themselves, boring.
And your conclusion from those two opinions is..

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 10:29 AM
Those are my observations wondergirl, I haven't come to many conclusions yet :)

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 10:32 AM
those are my observations wondergirl, I haven't come to many conclusions yet :)
Do you think people want to hang around with people who are lonely and boring? The article "suggests" yes, they do and then become lonely and boring too.

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 10:38 AM
Do you think people want to hang around with people who are lonely and boring? The article "suggests" yes, they do and then become lonely and boring too.That's the take I got from it too.
Perhaps rolcam will return to the thread and offer some insights as to why he/she is asking the question.

spitvenom
Feb 9, 2010, 10:43 AM
I don't know maybe I am making this to simple but if you are around someone doesn't that mean you aren't lonely anymore? I don't know if I even know what Loneliness feels like. I always have people around me if I want them there or not. Even if I want to be alone people still find me.

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 10:50 AM
Do you think people want to hang around with people who are lonely and boring? The article "suggests" yes, they do and then become lonely and boring too.

No, in fact, I don't think that. However, there are instances where people don't have a choice as to who they interact with, such as at work or within a family. In those situations, sometimes some people allow other's moods to rub off, or, for instance: The boss is having a bad day and is acting out. It will affect some employees in a negative way, others will let it all roll off their back.

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 10:53 AM
No, in fact, I don't think that. However, there are instances where people don't have a choice as to who they interact with, such as at work or within a family. In those situations, sometimes some people allow other's moods to rub off, or, for instance: The boss is having a bad day and is acting out. It will affect some employees in a negative way, others will let it all roll off their back.Ah, then that becomes a different study: people who are easily affected by the moods of others. :)

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 10:59 AM
No, in fact, I don't think that. However, there are instances where people don't have a choice as to who they interact with, such as at work or within a family. In those situations, sometimes some people allow other's moods to rub off, or, for instance: The boss is having a bad day and is acting out. It will affect some employees in a negative way, others will let it all roll off their back.
Do you think those people who let negative moods rub off on them become negative themselves?

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 11:06 AM
Do you think those people who let negative moods rub off on them become negative themselves?

That woud depend on the person

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 11:10 AM
That woud depend on the person
Aha! Was that mentioned in the study?

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 11:43 AM
Do you think those people who let negative moods rub off on them become negative themselves?

I'm sorry, did I knock a chip off your shoulder? If so, please excuse my clumsiness. I was answering a post from Rolcam which states: "Loneliness Can Be Contagious !!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is this a true fact?
Please share your experiences."

I provided a link to a study about loneliness and its contagiousness, that's all. I did not create the study, I did not make the claim that loneliness is contagious or not. Just gave a link to a study that pertained to OP.

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 11:48 AM
Is happiness contagious? I think so but happy people are usually out around other people whereas lonely people often wallow in their loneliness by themselves. That was the point of my first response to this question.

Where's the OP anyway?

Wondergirl
Feb 9, 2010, 12:19 PM
Where's the OP anyway?
When I said:
Wondergirl agrees: Rolcam is a he, have known him for years. He's maybe 6-7 hrs. ahead of us I probably meant behind us? (I get soooo confused.) He's to the east in Europe somewhere.

NeedKarma
Feb 9, 2010, 12:27 PM
Oh crap you're right. His profile says he's Aussie.

thisisit
Feb 9, 2010, 12:32 PM
I'll share my experience. When people around me are laughing, I'm more likely to laugh. Though I often laugh when I'm alone also. I'm not alone often, and never feel lonely when I am. I have been around people who have confided in me that they felt very lonely, even though they were surrounded by people. I have never developed a feeling of loneliness after hearing someone tell me they are lonely. When someone near me cries from pain or sadness or depression, I can empathize momentarily with them, but I don't come away from the experience crying, or depressed, or in pain. I often laugh when I'm alone, I rarely cry when I'm alone.

Ps, I have made no conclusion to my experience

ROLCAM
Feb 20, 2010, 04:08 AM
Do you ever feel lonely? The results of new study suggest that your own feelings may actually make the people around you more lonely as well.

According to the results of the study, loneliness can spread much like the common cold. While a cold or flu bug might be spread through a handshake, loneliness can spread through groups of people via negative social interactions. Past research has found that lonely people tend to act more shy, hostile, anxious and socially awkward. They also tend to interpret social interactions differently, often seeing certain behaviors in others as a form of rejection or dismissal.