Prioritizing social interaction: the power of reconnecting | Anastasia Hronis | TEDxUNSW

Dr. Anastasia Hronis, a clinical psychologist, delivers a talk on the neurochemistry underlying human behavior and the importance of social connection. She begins by introducing dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure and motivation to seek rewarding experiences. While dopamine evolved to help humans survive by motivating difficult tasks, modern technology—including social media, video games, dating apps, and online shopping—artificially overstimulates dopamine in unhealthy ways. When the brain becomes overstimulated by constant dopamine hits, it becomes desensitized, causing people to derive less enjoyment from naturally rewarding activities like time with friends.

Hronis identifies three key problems with dopamine-driven behaviors: first, morning screen usage depletes dopamine sensitivity for the day's activities; second, these behaviors often conflict with personal values, pulling people away from what matters most; and third, social media creates a false sense of connection while preventing people from seeking genuine social interaction. She contrasts this with oxytocin, a hormone activated through real social bonding that helps facilitate trust, bonding, and nervous system regulation. Hronis emphasizes that humans have a primal need for connection rooted in evolutionary survival—being part of a group provided safety. She argues oxytocin has been overshadowed by dopamine in cultural attention and calls for a shift toward oxytocin-aligned actions: avoiding morning phone scrolling, identifying personal values, and engaging in genuine face-to-face social interactions. The talk concludes with Hronis inviting audience members to connect with each other physically, demonstrating oxytocin activation in real time.