ABSTRACT
Social isolation and conflict due to structural racism may result in human suffering
and loneliness across the lifespan. Given the rising prevalence of these problems
in America, combined with disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the
neurobiology of affiliative behaviors may offer practical solutions to the pressing
challenges associated with structural racism. Controlled experiments across species
demonstrate that social connections are critical to survival, although strengthening
individual resilience is insufficient to address the magnitude and impact of structural
racism. In contrast, the multi-level construct of social resilience, defined by the
power of groups to cultivate, engage in, and sustain positive relationships that endure
and recuperate from social adversities, offers unique insights that may have greater
impact, reach, and durability than individual-level interventions. Here, we review
the putative social resilience-enhancing interventions and, when available, their
biological mediators, with the hope to stimulate discovery of novel approaches to
mitigate structural racism. We will first explore the social neuroscience principles
underlying psychotherapy and other psychiatric interventions. Then, we will explore
translational efforts across species to tailor treatments that increase social resilience,
with context and cultural sensitivity in mind. Finally, we will conclude with some
practical future directions for understudied areas that may be essential for progress
in biological psychiatry, including ethical ways to increase representation in research
and developing social paradigms that inform dynamics toward or away from socially
resilient outcomes.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 5,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 15,
2022
Received:
February 15,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
Financial Disclosures and Acknowledgements: MKS has received research support from Stanford’s Maternal Child Health Research Institute and Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Aging, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Johnson and Johnson, and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. She is on the advisory board for Sunovion and Skyland Trail, is a consultant for Johnson and Johnson and Alkermes, has previously consulted for X, moonshot factory, Alphabet Inc. and Limbix Health, and has received honoraria from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and royalties from American Psychiatric Association Publishing and Thrive Global. SPS was a Commissioner (2013-19) for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, mandated by UK Parliament. He led the Independent Investigation into prejudice and racism within the British Conservative Party (The Singh Investigation, 2021). He is part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West Midlands, UK. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care, UK. All other authors report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.
“When “I” is replaced by “we” even illness becomes wellness.” – Malcolm X
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