PsychologyAugust 29, 2026

socioemotional

SO-see-oh-i-MOH-shun-ul

Definition

Relating to the interaction between social behavior and emotional experience, specifically how people prioritize relationships and emotional satisfaction.

Etymology

A compound word derived from 'socio-', relating to society or social interactions, and 'emotional,' relating to feelings or affect. It emerged in the 20th century to describe the interplay between individual feelings and group-oriented human behavior.

In the news

The term is used to describe 'socioemotional selectivity theory,' which explains why retirees prune their social circles to prioritize meaningful connections as they perceive time becoming more finite.

Psychology says quiet retirees who seem to have retreated from the world often haven't retreated at all, they've simply stopped going to places that required them to be a version of themselves they never truly chose

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