February 22, 2007: John Cacioppo (University of Chicago)

Thomas M. Ostrom Scholar in Residence

• http://cacioppo.socialpsychology.org/

Living an isolated existence in a changing social world

Demographic projections point to profound changes in the social structure of families and society. Social isolation -- a potent but little understood risk factor for broad based morbidity and mortality -- is increasing dramatically in the U.S. The filtration from social isolation to psychological states to physiology and mortality is examined, and five general mechanisms for the association between social isolation and mortality are examined. Social isolation is found to affect multiple social psychological and behavioral processes, which in turn influence mortality through somewhat different transduction pathways.

Note: Dr. Cacioppo's visit is funded by the Thomas M. Ostrom Scholar in Residence Fund. Contributions may be made through the OSU Development Office.