Dr. Gabriel in the Media
Connection and Joy with Shira Gabriel
September 1, 2026“In this wide-ranging conversation with host Cheryl Quimba, Gabriel explores the evolutionary roots of our need to belong and the surprisingly varied ways we fulfill that need—from sharing an experience with a group of strangers to losing ourselves in a book.”
“Collective Effervescence” Is Good For You. Here’s What You Can Do To Experience It.
June 16, 2026“Collective effervescence is an experience that we sometimes have in a crowd of people when there’s a strong feeling of connection to others and a feeling of sacredness, that something special is happening.”
Things Keeping Me Going on This Difficult Day
January 8, 2026“I find myself searching for words to give me meaning and hope and to help me continue in these dark, dark times. And I found some. And I am sharing them with you in case you need them too.”
When the Grief Sinks In
August 17, 2025“I am moving through [a] huge hormonal and physical change. One that frames my life as a mother and adult. One that moves me towards the last section of life… And along with that physical change, I strongly feel the change that happens when parents are gone and kids are grown and spouses retire. My life is changing.”
Why Experiencing Awe With Others Feels So Magical
November 5, 2023“Shira explains the many mental health benefits of collective effervescence and why it's easier to seek out than you might think. (Spoiler alert: you can still experience it even if you don't like big crowds!)”
Collective Effervescence with Or Taicher, Michal Shahaf, Ben Yaffet and Dr. Shira Gabriel
January 30, 2023“A Templeton World Charity Foundation-funded study led by social psychologist Dr. Shira Gabriel is looking at the effects group singing events like those put together by Koolulam have on aspects of our wellbeing.”
Large Events Can Be Cesspools of Germs. Here’s Why We Ache for Them, Anyway.
May 13, 2021“As a human, you have ‘a very primitive desire to feel like you’re a part of a larger collective,’ said Shira Gabriel… ‘There’s something special about being there with other people and being in the moment in a collective that is really important for our well-being.’”
What Happens When We Lose Our Social Rituals?
April 22, 2020“Shared rituals play an important role in our psyches, according to social psychologist Shira Gabriel. Her research suggests that rituals… create a feeling of unity and sacredness that bonds us together with others.”
Protests, Parties, and Sports Games All Fill the Same Human Need
January 23, 2017“According to [Dr. Gabriel’s] forthcoming research, these effervescent experiences fill the human need for belonging in a way that most social psychology research… has tended to overlook.“
Why Comfort Food Comforts
April 3, 2015“According to Shira Gabriel, an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York, Buffalo, the best way to understand the question is to shift the focus away from the food itself.“
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