Demographic projections point to profound changes in the social structure of families and society in the industrialized world.  Social isolation – a potent but little understood risk factor for broad based morbidity and mortality – is increasing dramatically.  The filtration from social isolation to psychological states to physiology and mortality is examined, and five general mechanisms for the association between social isolation and mortality are examined.

John T. Cacioppo

John T. Cacioppo ist Tiffany & Margaret Blake Professor für Psychologie an der Universität Chicago und Direktor des Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience. Zu seinen wichtigsten Veröffentlichungen gehören (mit G. G. Berntson) Social neuroscience (2005) und (zusammen mit B. Patrick) Loneliness: Human nature and the need for social connection (2008).