By Li-elle Rapaport
Publication Date: 2026-04-26 12:50:00
Amid a rapid AI-driven technology boom and all the changes that come with it, mental health problems due to social isolation are on the rise. Researchers in social and clinical psychology have documented this shift and dubbed it the “loneliness epidemic.”
Human connection is essential for psychological well-being, but the world is increasingly disjointed. As technology streamlines our lives, many report increasing levels of depression, anxiety, and existential fears caused by the physical and emotional distance between us.
And so psychologists ask themselves: “How do we stay connected to the here and now and to each other?”
A facet of self-compassion theory—a concept developed by psychologist Kristin Neff that prescribes treating ourselves with the same care and understanding as our friends—could be the answer. “Common Humanity” promotes the realization that we are indeed not alone, as all people share the same…
