The neural bases of feeling understood and not understood

Abstract

Past research suggests that feeling understood enhances both personal and social well-being. However, little research has examined the neurobiological bases of feeling understood and not understood. We addressed these gaps by experimentally inducing felt understanding and not understanding as participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results demonstrated that feeling understood activated neural regions previously associated with reward and social connection (i.e. ventral striatum and middle insula), while not feeling understood activated neural regions previously associated with negative affect (i.e. anterior insula). Both feeling understood and not feeling understood activated different components of the mentalizing system (feeling understood: precuneus and temporoparietal junction; not feeling understood: dorsomedial prefrontal cortex). Neural responses were associated with subsequent feelings of social connection and disconnection and were modulated by individual differences in rejection sensitivity. Thus, this study provides insight into the psychological processes underlying feeling understood (or not) and may suggest new avenues for targeted interventions that amplify the benefits of feeling understood or buffer individuals from the harmful consequences of not feeling understood.

Wanting to like: Motivation influences behavioral and neural responses to social feedback

“…Indeed, past work shows that people value social approval from peers, and exhibit greater reward-related activity in response to such signals (Cooper et al, 2013;Gunther Moor et al, 2010;Guyer et al, 2008;Izuma et al, 2008;Korn et al, 2012;Morelli, Torre, & Eisenberger, 2014;Somerville, Kelley, & Heatherton, 2010). Our findings conditionalize these insights, by…”

“…As such, individuals seek out and value social approval from others, and frequently surround themselves with people who provide such approval (Aronson & Linder, 1965;Rodman, Powers, Somerville, 2017;Swann, Hixon, Stein-Seroussi, Gilbert, 1990). Indeed, past research shows robust reward signals when people receive positive evaluations about their appearance, personality characteristics, future prospects, and social status (Cooper et al, 2013;Hughes & Beer, 2013;Izuma et al, 2008;Korn et al, 2012;Morelli et al, 2014;Sharot, Korn, & Dolan, 2011;Somerville, Kelly, & Heatherton, 2010;Zink et al, 2008). However, not all positive evaluations may have been created equal.…”

Toward understanding understanding: The importance of feeling understood in relationships

“…Research using functional magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated benefits of felt understanding at a neurological level. Experimentally induced felt understanding activated neural regions associated with social connection and reward, whereas experimentally induced perceptions of misunderstanding activated neural regions associated with negative affect (Morelli, Torre, & Eisenberger, ).…”

I knew you'd understand: How gendered expectations of understanding affect stress

“…Past literature has established that perceptions of understanding in an interaction have positive benefits for physical health (Lun et al, ; Morelli et al, ; Oishi et al, ). Of particular importance to the current study, understanding interactions are associated with lower blood pressure (Seehausen et al, ) and healthier diurnal cortisol slopes (Slatcher et al, ).…”