Sept. 14, 2026

Why Isolation Makes You Want to Be More Alone | Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen

Sitting In Podcast | Ep. 028 - Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen | Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen has a PhD in Social Psychology, extensive research regarding Solitude and Isolation, and coined the term "Deactivation Effect" in cognitive psychology.

In today's episode, you can expect to learn:

- Why solitude is a space for regulation and refreshment

- The differences between the US and the UK when it comes to solitude

- What a "third space" is and why they're so important

- How to encourage your friends into and out of solitude

and much more!

Check out Dr. Nguyen's website:

https://www.thuyvytnguyen.com/home

and her lab's website: www.solitude-lab.com


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00:00 Intro

00:41 Solitude as a space for refreshment and regulation

02:26 Solitude vs. isolation vs. loneliness

05:56 Lived experience and personal science

07:49 Psychology is like cooking

08:19 U.S. vs. U.K. Solitude differences

12:35 NHS organizing free activities for public health

16:13 How many hours does it take to become a close friend?

19:57 The proximity principle

22:26 Religious spaces as third spaces

25:28 Men vs. women, differences in social connection

28:17 Fight-or-flight vs. tend-and-befriend

31:08 Self-reliance and independence: good and bad

36:06 Life transitions and maintaining connections

40:14 Socioemotional selection theory

47:00 Nature as a third space

51:00 Isolation entropy

54:40 Thuy-vy's response

56:46 Isolation lineraly decreases energy levels

1:00:00 Removing social stimulation removes structure?

1:07:07 How to get out of a low-energy state

1:08:54 Men vs. women recovering from a low-energy state

1:11:54 Encouraging people to reconnect after solitude

1:13:11 Knowing how your friends need support

1:20:41 Thuy-vy's encouragement to young people

1:24:13 Find more of Thuy-vy's work!