Friendship is built over time, through ordinary moments – I teach lonely college students to notice them

Students in this course learn about the biology and sociology of friendship, but also put their studies to the test by going to eat a meal with a peer, and tracking their experience.

By: Justin Vaughn, Coastal Carolina University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 24, 2026

Words: 901

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Justin Vaughn, Coastal Carolina University

The first skill I learned when I became a political science professor nearly 20 years ago was how to quiet a room full of chatty undergraduates.

These days, I often walk into a silent room, with students staring at their phones and barely acknowledging the classmates beside them.

As I read more about the United States’ loneliness crisis, I began noticing a version of it among …

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