Individual differences in social attachment: A multi‐disciplinary perspective

Abstract

Social behavior varies across both individuals and species. Research to explain this variation falls under the purview of multiple disciplines, each with its own theoretical and empirical traditions. Integration of these disciplinary traditions is key to developing a holistic perspective. Here, we review research on the biology of social attachment, a phenomena in which individuals develop strong affective connections to one another. We provide a historical overview of research on social attachment from psychological, ethological and neurobiological perspectives. As a case study, we describe work on pair‐bonding in prairie voles, a socially monogamous rodent. This specific topic takes advantage of many biological perspectives and techniques to explain social bonds. Lastly, we conclude with an overview of multi‐dimensional conceptual frameworks that can be used to explain social phenomena, and we propose a new framework for research on individual variation in attachment behavior. These conceptual frameworks originate from philosophy, physics, ethology, cognitive science and neuroscience. The application and synthesis of such frameworks offers a rich opportunity to advance understanding of social behavior and its mechanisms.

Rethinking the Architecture of Attachment: New Insights into the Role for Oxytocin Signaling

“…The formation and persistence of social bonds require coordination of a multitude of affective and cognitive domains, including social motivation, learning and memory, reward and valence processing, and threat detection. These domains are integrated to guide the display of prosocial and agonistic behaviors in the appropriate ethological context (Gustison & Phelps, 2022 ; Insel & Young, 2001 ; Krach, 2010 ; Resendez & Aragona, 2013 ). Each of these domains and related behaviors has been attributed to specific regions and circuits in the brain.…”

“…Each of these domains and related behaviors has been attributed to specific regions and circuits in the brain. Local neural circuits are also integrated into functionally connected networks that are interrelated and mediate multiple affective domains that influence attachment behaviors (Gustison & Phelps, 2022 ; Seeley et al, 2007 ). For example, activity in the amygdala is thought to encode valence, the positive or negative affective response to a stimuli, as well as other affective domains (Lanska, 2018 ; Tye, 2018 ).…”

Nurcholish Madjid's Multiperspective Neuroparaemiophenomenology of Love

“…Unfortunately, multiple single molecules, such as oxytocin, are incapable of explaining complex behaviors such as love (Gustison & Phelps, 2022). In the regulation of the oxytocin system, various nervous systems include neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, particularly acetylcholine, catecholamines, indoleamines, endogenous opioids, sex steroids, various molecules on the HPA axis, including corticosterone and CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), inflammatory cytokines, interact with each other (Baribeau & Anagnostou, 2015).…”

“…Levels are higher when compared to those who are stable in love and those who are not stable in love. Furthermore, it appears that the level of NGF is strongly related to the intensity of romantic feelings (De Boer et al, 2012;Zeki, 2007) Oxytocin and vasopressin, another chemically related neuromodulator, appear to be specifically linked to attachment and bonding (Gustison & Phelps, 2022). Both are produced by the hypothalamus, then released and stored in the pituitary gland before being "expelled" into the blood, particularly during orgasm in both sexes.…”

From basic social neurobiology to better understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders

“…Not all specific social behaviors, including social behaviors characteristic of humans, can be studied in standard laboratory species. The previous volume of the special issue highlighted the importance of choosing appropriate species for such studies by discussing the power of experiments in socially monogamous prairie voles for understanding the neurobiology of pair‐bonding 5,6 . The research paper by Mederos, Duarte and colleagues in the current issue initiates the development of a novel fish model that could enhance our understanding of pair‐bonding 7 .…”