People have a strong desire to belong that's often met through interpersonal relationships such as friendships and romantic partnerships, but there exists an equally strong human motivation to have a place in broader society—and it's just as essential to well-being.

Interpersonal relationships can fulfill what psychologists identify as a "need to belong," while the broader need for a societal connection can be achieved through parasocial bonds, narratives or immersion in crowds.

It's what a University at Buffalo psychologist calls "social embeddedness."

Shira Gabriel, Ph.D., a professor of psychology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences, coined the term, which she explains in a recent paper published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Social embeddedness is a framework based on 20 years of research from Gabriel's lab. It provides a new understanding of human behavior that can also inform and support other research in psychology.

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