Sense Of Belongingness

620 Words2 Pages

Abraham Maslow believes that a sense of belongingness is the most essential part of life; only after breathing, eating, and sleeping. Without a sense of belongingness people can become lonely and accordingly, loneliness can cause people to feel, empty, alone, and unwanted. A series of recent studies have shown people without connections and relationships with people are more susceptible to drug and alcohol addiction. The state of being, in which one feels a sense emptiness does not only have negative effects on both physical and mental health, but it is also transmittable. However, relationships can help battle issues with loneliness. Therefore, for one to feel a sense of belongingness relationships, connections, and bonds are vital. In order to live a happy and healthy lifestyle, people need to feel like they belong. …show more content…

A study done by Bruce Alexander may have proved that loneliness may be the cause of most cases of addiction. Ultimately, he did this by the production of Rat Park, Rat Park was a cage that not only included features that would entertain the vermin, Rat Park also housed multiple rats, not just one. In previous studies, scientists placed rats in a cage, alone, with two bottles; one containing water, and the other containing water laced with cocaine. Of course, the rats drank the highly addictive water laced with cocaine and all eventually died, however, when Alexander redid the study using multiple rats in rat park, the rats, not only disregarded the drug water, but they all lived. Some may say this is not an accurate depiction of humans, but this theory was evident during the Vietnam war. 20% of US soldiers became addicted to heroin while stationed in Vietnam, and of that 20%, 95% ultimately stopped after they returned home, and reconnected with their friends and

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