Why Does Rejection Hurt So Much? A Scientist Who Studies Misery Breaks It Down
- Posted on September 28, 2026
- By Vogue
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- 1 min read
In brief
Explore the psychological mechanisms behind rejection through the lens of behavioral science. Carnegie Mellon's George Loewenstein examines why social rejection triggers such profound emotional pain, examining the neurobiological and psychological factors that make rejection one of humanity's most persistent sources of suffering. Discover evidence-based insights into coping with rejection and understanding our deep-rooted need for social acceptance.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Why Does Rejection Hurt So Much? A Scientist Who Studies Misery Breaks It Down
In an excerpt from “The Opposite of Happiness: How Bad Feelings Make and Break Us,” Carnegie Mellon professor George Loewenstein turns his attention to one of the most devastating, and enduring, forms of misery: rejection.
