Human Connection Science
Which hormone increases when someone feels socially excluded?
A) Dopamine
B) Cortisol
C) Serotonin
D) Oxytocin
B-Cortisol
People with anxious attachment often use which behavior to relieve internal distress?
A) Distancing
B) Numbing
C) Reassurance seeking
D) Minimizing
C- Reassurance seeking
Which type of loneliness refers to missing meaningful connection rather than simply the presence of people?
A) Social loneliness
B) Emotional loneliness
C) Existential loneliness
B — emotional loneliness (missing closeness, intimacy, attunement).
According to DBT, what skill directly counteracts loneliness-driven avoidance?
A) Opposite action
B) Cognitive defusion
C) Checking the facts
D) Wise mind
A- Opposite Action
Which brain structure becomes overactive in people with chronic hypervigilance after trauma?
A) Amygdala
B) Cerebellum
C) Occipital lobe
D) Basal ganglia
A- Amygdala
Which emotion most commonly masks loneliness and prevents outreach?
A) Shame
B) Anger
C) Guilt
A — shame often drives the withdrawal cycle.
Research shows it takes about how many positive interactions to start forming trust with someone new?
A) 1–2
B) 5–6
C) 10–12
Answer: B (5–6).
Which defense mechanism can make someone appear self-sufficient but actually be deeply lonely?
A) Intellectualization
B) Projection
C) Withdrawal
D) Rationalization
C- Withdrawal
In polyvagal theory, which nervous system state supports social engagement and connection?
A) Sympathetic activation
B) Ventral vagal
C) Dorsal vagal
B — ventral vagal activation.
What attachment style is most likely to mask loneliness with independence or emotional distance?
A) Anxious
B) Avoidant
C) Secure
B- Avoidant
How many hugs per day are recommended to reduce stress?
A) 1
B) 4
C) 8
C-8
Which cognitive distortion increases social anxiety and loneliness by assuming people are judging you?
A) Personalization
B) Labeling
C) Externalizing
D) Mind reading
D- Mind reading
Which neurotransmitter system is most associated with social bonding and long-term attachment?
A) Dopamine
B) Oxytocin
C) GABA
B — oxytocin
What term describes the process where someone unconsciously repeats old relationship patterns in new relationships?
A) Transference
B) Projection
C) Reinforcement
D) Habituation
A- Transference
According to research, chronic loneliness increases mortality risk as much as what health behavior?
A) Smoking 15 cigarettes per day
B) Drinking alcohol daily
C) Eating a high-fat diet
A — loneliness has a mortality impact similar to heavy smoking.
Which interpersonal pattern is often rooted in unmet childhood needs?
A) People-pleasing
B) Perfectionism
C) Fear of intimacy
D) All of the above
D- All of the above
What part of the brain is most activated during experiences of social rejection or loneliness?
A) Hippocampus
B) Dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)
C) Cerebellum
B — the dACC (same region involved in physical pain)
People with disorganized attachment often show what contradictory pattern?
A) Pulling close but acting indifferent
B) Desiring closeness but fearing it
C) Being overly independent but very emotional
D) Staying silent but wanting attention
B- Desiring closeness but fearing it
What is the term for the human ability to calm through someone else’s nervous system?
A) Co-regulation
B) Transference
C) Enmeshment
A- Co-regulation
Which mental health symptom most strongly increases feelings of disconnection?
A) Agitation
B) Anhedonia
C) Impulsivity
D) Racing thoughts
B — loss of pleasure disconnects people from meaning & others