Your brain learns from rejection − here’s how it becomes your compass for connection

Social psychology researcher: Rejection can serve as a learning signal shaping how people navigate relationships and decide whom to try to connect with in the future.

Rejection hurts to alert you that your welfare is in danger, he says.

When you’re accepted, your brain notes that feeling included results in a rewarding experience.

We examine how people learn from social rejection and acceptance over time.

Begüm Babür : To maintain healthy relationships, you need to disentangle social rewards from how much you think others value you.

Each social interaction helps people update internal models of who values them and who doesn’t, shaping future decisions about whom to trust, approach or avoid.