The Psychology of Solitude episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 10, 2026 · 1H 25M

The Psychology of Solitude

from Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life

Alone isn’t lonely. Psychologist Robert Coplan, author of The Joy of Solitude, coined aloneliness—the distress of not getting enough time to yourself. Psychologist Thuy-vy Nguyen, co-author of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone, discovered the “deactivation effect”—just fifteen minutes alone turns down the volume on your emotions. Peter McGraw talks to them about the science of solitude and answers questions, such as “What actually happens when you sit with yourself? And how much solitude is enough?” The answers might surprise you.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.petermcgraw.org/solo

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The Psychology of Solitude

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How long is this episode of Solo – The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life?

This episode is 1 hour and 25 minutes long.

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This episode was published on March 10, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Alone isn’t lonely. Psychologist Robert Coplan, author of The Joy of Solitude, coined aloneliness—the distress of not getting enough time to yourself. Psychologist Thuy-vy Nguyen, co-author of Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone,...

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