Individual differences in social homeostasis

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.

Keywords: attachment; biobehavioral stress tendencies; culture; epigenetics; personality; sex differences; social homeostasis; stress reactivity.

Figure 1

Social utility at any given time point is never static. In this figure, we highlight the role that different experiences, including epigenetic processes and environmental factors, can play in both initial setpoint and changes over time. Both acute and chronic social and stress-related processes can result in short- or long-term adjustment to the setpoint.