This animation represents the pain of rejection or social pain as described by neuroscientists. When we feel rejected or isolated, the same area of the brain that registers physical pain is activated, suggesting that the emotional impact of the two is similar. This area of the brain is called anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
In other words, when people play favourites, bully, or ignore other people, the feelings generated at the receiving end can hurt as much as when physical body pain is inflicted. For further information we recommend the following article which can be found on the net: The pains and pleasures of social life by Dr. Matthew Lieberman and Dr. Naomi Eisenberg
Animated by Stuart Conacher
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rk4Q2J9cosk/maxresdefault.jpg)