Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.

In today's episode, Chris and Abbie are discussing why change can feel so lonely? They will talk about what triggers growth in people, the amount a person can actually change and how loneliness plays a role in this growth. [June 2, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:47 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

01:06 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

02:23 - Dr. Abbie Announcement

03:30 - The Topic of the Day: The Lonely Chapter

04:38 - Triggering Change

06:00 - People Don't Change?

11:30 - All Change Isn't Growth

13:15 - Why Growth Can Be Lonely

15:56 - What About Love?

17:16 - New You, Who Dis?

21:19 - Feelings Can REALLY Hurt!

22:15 - Choosing Who You Are

24:36 - Syncing Up

27:43 - A Constant Evolution

30:17 - Search For Meaning

32:31 - Making Connections

33:12 - Wrap Up

33:56 - Next Month: Love At First Sight

34:42 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd

- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

References:

Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302(5643), 290–292. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1089134

Ebaugh, H. R. F. (1988). Becoming an ex: The process of role exit. University of Chicago Press.

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press.

Frankl, V. E. (1963). Man's search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. Beacon Press.

Higgins, E. T. (1987). Self-discrepancy: A theory relating self and affect. Psychological Review, 94(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.94.3.319

Mass, M. (1991). The theory of "identity dissonance": Mass. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(1), 577B.

Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Social interactions and well-being: The surprising power of weak ties. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(7), 910–922. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214529799

Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Arn, I., & Magnusson, D. (2005). The psychobiology of oxytocin: An integrative review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(7), 610–626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.02.008