"What people are longing for isn't the next gadget or algorithm. They miss phone calls that linger past bedtime, the kind you make just because you want to hear someone's voice. And, they want to open a real paper planner to schedule a walk in nature, a card-writing session, or a home-cooked dinner. They want to write in their journals, but the lure of their phone is often too strong, too easy, too "right there.""
"One of the most powerful chemicals in our social brains is oxytocin, sometimes called the " bonding hormone" or "cuddle hormone." Research shows that oxytocin is more than romantic; it strengthens trust, emotional sharing, and social bonds more broadly. For example, a classic study by Lane and colleagues (2013) had participants recall painful memories, and when given oxytocin (versus a placebo), they were more willing to share the emotional side of the memory, not just the facts. That matters because emotional sharing is one of the most potent ways we co-regulate with each other, lowering stress and deepening connection."
Digital life often overwhelms and reduces authentic human presence, prompting a widespread longing for simple, analog rituals. People crave phone calls, paper planners, walks in nature, card writing, home-cooked dinners, and journal time as anchors of belonging and calm. Oxytocin, a social neurochemical, strengthens trust, emotional sharing, and broader social bonds, enabling co-regulation and stress reduction. Experimental evidence shows oxytocin increases willingness to share emotional aspects of memories, which deepens connection. Analog, in-person interactions such as meals, walks, and extended phone calls produce physiological and emotional benefits that digital interactions do not reliably provide.
Read at Psychology Today
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