#social-bonding

#social-bonding

"Up high, down low, in heaven, six seven!" That's the gag that my kids paused over their breakfasts this morning to get me to do with them-twice. (Just as funny the second time, right?) If you're around kids at all these days, you've likely encountered this "six seven" business, the words said in a delighted lilt, and often accompanied by some kind of dance, shimmy, or hand gesture.

The concert was a collective exercise in nostalgia - that powerful emotion triggered by the intersection of experience and memory. Some people think of nostalgia as a sort of bittersweet feeling, an aching reminder of what we have lost. It is joy tinged with sadness, but primarily a positive emotion that is part of the human experience. It is a feeling that sneaks up on you, and not just at massive concerts.

A new study published in Mindfulness (June 2025) suggests that just two minutes of shared meditation can quickly increase emotional closeness. The research, led by psychologists from the University of Pennsylvania, shows even a brief interaction, like making eye contact or reflecting on shared human emotions, can promote deeper connection, empathy, and feelings of warmth. In the first experiment, 55 people (average age: 24) were paired in quick virtual sessions via Zoom. Most participants didn't know each other or have any meditation experience.