Loneliness has been described as ‘social pain’. Just as physical pain has evolved to signal injury and prevent further injury, so loneliness may have evolved to signal social isolation and stimulate us to seek out social bonds. Human beings are profoundly social animals and depend on their social group for sustenance and protection, and also for identity, narrative, and meaning. Historically and still today, to be alone is to be in mortal danger of losing oneself.
