Free guide on emotional intelligence: https://newsletter.sankalpgarud.org/52waysguide In this video, I talk about loneliness, social connection, friendship and the likes. I explore both the science and the practice of making friends. Who am I? If we haven't met before, I am Sankalp, a PhD student in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. My aim is to significantly increase happiness and well-being in this world. On this channel I talk about all things psychology, both from the inside (think emotions) and from the outside (think brain). 00:00 Trailer 02:35 Podcast begins 04:59 Exploring the Grant Study: The Importance of Social Bonds 08:39 Loneliness vs. Social Network Sizes: A Deep Dive into Studies 13:14 The Neuroscience of Social Connection: Brain Mechanisms and Hormones 15:48 How many friends can I have at once 20:09 Impact of decreasing family sizes on lonelinesss 22:17 Role of endorphins 27:37 Meditation and default mode network 30:33 Empathy and mirror neurons 34:46 Social context and social mistakes 36:32 Social connection as a fundamental human need 40:14 Gut health and social anxiety 43:03 Social Status and Its Impact: Understanding Our Social Hierarchy 45:20 Fear of rejection 46:50 Overcoming Fear and Rejection in Social Interactions 49:35 Tip: Talk to strangers 52:14 Do Looks Matter? 53:39 Key Factors in Forming Friendships: Similarity, Proximity, and Familiarity 56:40 How many hours to go from friend to stranger? 58:05 Tip: Acceptance 58:57 Tip: Choosing right environments, cities, and venues 01:00:46 Tip: Optimising nutrition 01:01:30 Tip: How to overcome fear of rejection 01:06:08 Tip Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity for Deeper Connections 01:07:32 Tip: Friendly greetings 01:08:37 Building self-esteem 01:10:49 The halo effect 01:12:20 Internal Family Systems Model 01:16:11 Conversation skills 01:23:26 My personal experience eliminating social anxiety