AUTHOR=Bales Karen L. , Hang Sally , Paulus John P. , Jahanfard Elaina , Manca Claudia , Jost Geneva , Boyer Chase , Bern Rose , Yerumyan Daniella , Rogers Sophia , Mederos Sabrina L. TITLE=Individual differences in social homeostasis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience VOLUME=17 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1068609 DOI=10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1068609 ISSN=1662-5153 ABSTRACT=

The concept of “social homeostasis”, introduced by Matthews and Tye in 2019, has provided a framework with which to consider our changing individual needs for social interaction, and the neurobiology underlying this system. This model was conceived as including detector systems, a control center with a setpoint, and effectors which allow us to seek out or avoid additional social contact. In this article, we review and theorize about the many different factors that might contribute to the setpoint of a person or animal, including individual, social, cultural, and other environmental factors. We conclude with a consideration of the empirical challenges of this exciting new model.