Alone, Not Lonely: The Psychology of Solitude

Engaging, thought provoking lectures by experts, professors and storytellers in Ottawa bars 📚Lecture: Alone, Not Lonely: The Psychology of Solitude ⏱️Time: Doors: 6pm Lecture: 7pm 🎤Speaker: Robert J. Coplan, PhD (Psychologist & Solitude Researcher) Solitude is part of the human experience, but we’re only beginning to understand the potential costs and benefits of spending time alone for our health and well-being. In this lecture, we’ll explore the promises and paradoxes of solitude. What does it actually mean to be alone? What’s the difference between solitude and loneliness? And why does spending time alone tend to get such a bad rap? Drawing on psychological research, personal stories and some surprising findings, we’ll look at when solitude can be good for us, when it isn’t, and why our experiences of being alone can differ so much from one person to another. We’ll also explore some surprisingly simple, science-backed ways to get more out of our alone time and create opportunities to experience the unique benefits that solitude can offer. Robert J. Coplan, PhD is a psychologist, researcher, teacher, and author who has been studying solitude for more than thirty years. He is a Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University. Over the course of his career, he has extensively explored the costs and benefits of spending time alone among children, adolescents, and adults. He has authored several academic books and recently published his first popular press book, The Joy of Solitude: How To Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World (Simon & Schuster).