In a recent study, Stanford University researchers found that virtual reality technology can help people increase enduring empathy for others.
Category Archives: The Bonds Between Us
Are Family Traditions Important?
As our lives become ever fuller with individual commitments and distractions, it’s easy to let go of family traditions that might not seem as pressing. But what might we lose in the long run when we skip out on things that were once important enough to have become traditions?
Bromances may be good for men’s health
A 2016 study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley showed that mild stress can be a catalyst for male bonding, which has postive health benefits.
How Jhumpa Lahiri Learned to Write Again
Pulitzer-prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, know for writing about themes of nationality and belonging, discusses how learning the Italian language helped her re-discover herself.
The Joy of Food
Across cultures and time, food has brought people together. View the galleries of images in this article to see people bonding over food.
Laughter Is Contagious, But It’s Not Alone
Authors David Sturt and Tood Nurstrum discuss the contagious nature of positive behaviors and emotions, inlcuding how being appeciated by someone makes us want to show our appreciation for others.
A father-daughter dance—in prison
Angela Patton talks about the series of ideas that led to a unique way of celebrating and strengthening the bond between girls and their fathers.
Choir Singers’ Hearts Beat as One
The national anthem, your school’s alma mater or fight song—singing in a group can make you feel emotionally connected. But is there also a physiological response? Read this article to find out.
1.3 million students are homeless. Here’s how we can help them
Our schools and our communities are stronger when we reach out to help others. Read about actions school districts across the country are taking to help homeless students.
The 13 Essential Traits of Good Friends
What does it really take to form the bond of close friendships? A counselor breaks it down.
Oxytocin: Facts About the “Cuddle Hormone”
The hormone oxytocin has long been associated with mothers bonding with their babies. But its full story is much more complex.
Like Humans, Chimps Reward Cooperation and Punish Freeloaders
The similarities between humans and chimpanzees are not merely genetic. Find out what researchers are learning about their very human-like behaviors.
To Gossip or Not to Gossip: That Is the Question
Some recent studies have shown that human beings are actually hard-wired to gossip, and that gossip serves a social function in helping us bond with others. But do the negative consequences of gossip outweigh the positive ones?
Loneliest Human
Author Randall Munroe explores how far people have been from their fellow humans and how they may have felt about that distance.
Temple of 1,000 bells
People come together to hear the song of the bell cricket at one Japanese temple.
Rural schools often the heart of small E. Washington towns
Across the nation, budget cuts threaten the existence of small schools in rural areas. Read about the important role some of these schools play in binding communities together.
The best friendships never die
A journalist reflects on the evolving bonds of a friendship formed on the basketball court.
The look of love: How humans and dogs bond
If you feel like you and your dog love each other, it isn’t just your imagination. Research shows that levels of a bonding hormone spike in both dogs and their humans when they’re together.
The Japanese Festival of the Dead: Obon
Learn about traditional lantern festivals in Japan.
I survived a terrorist attack. Here’s what I learned.
The bombing of a London subway station in 2005 may have been meant to drive a wedge between people, but one survivor feels that it brought her closer to the rest of humanity.