Social Bonding Process

A Social Bonding Process is a interpersonal process that creates and strengthens emotional attachments between social agents through shared experiences and neurochemical mechanisms.

• AKA: Social Attachment Process, Interpersonal Bonding, Social Connection Process, Relationship Formation Process.
• Context:
  • It can typically involve Oxytocin Release for attachment formation.
  • It can typically require Repeated Interactions through social contact.
  • It can often activate Neural Endorphin System via pleasurable interactions.
  • It can often strengthen Social Networks through relationship building.
  • It can range from being a Weak Social Bonding Process to being a Strong Social Bonding Process, depending on its bond intensity.
  • It can range from being a Rapid Social Bonding Process to being a Gradual Social Bonding Process, depending on its temporal progression.
  • It can range from being a Dyadic Bonding Process to being a Group Bonding Process, depending on its participant number.
  • It can range from being a Conscious Bonding Process to being an Unconscious Bonding Process, depending on its awareness level.
  • It can facilitate Cooperation Behavior through trust building.
  • It can influence Social Identity via group membership.
  • It can support Mental Health through social support systems.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Parent-Child Bonding Processes, such as:
    • Maternal Bonding Process for mother-infant attachment.
    • Paternal Bonding Process for father-child connection.
    • Attachment Formation Process for caregiver relationship.
  • Peer Bonding Processes, such as:
    • Friendship Formation Process for platonic relationship.
    • Team Bonding Process for group cohesion.
    • Shared Laughter Bonding for humor-based connection.
  • Romantic Bonding Processes, such as:
    • Pair Bonding Process for romantic attachment.
    • Intimacy Development Process for deep connection.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Social Isolation Process, which reduces social connection.
  • Conflict Process, which creates interpersonal tension.
  • Formal Transaction Process, which lacks emotional component.
• See: Social Process, Attachment Theory, Oxytocin System, Neural Endorphin System, Social Network, Human Laughter Behavior, Emotional Contagion Mechanism, Social Relationship, Group Dynamics, Interpersonal Psychology, Vasopressin System, Social Neuroscience.

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