Virginia Thomas Ph.D.

About

Virginia Thomas, Ph.D., is a psychologist whose research examines solitude and its relationship to identity, personality, and well-being. She earned her doctorate in developmental psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and she is currently an assistant professor of psychology at Middlebury College.

Recent Posts

Is Your Solitude Authentic?

Authentic solitude is strikingly different from what researchers call “pseudo-solitude,” and this difference matters for our psychological health.

Why Being (Alone) in Nature Is Good for You

Feeling burnt out? New research explains why you need to "de-tether" from the digital world and seek out Mother Nature.

8 Ways to Embrace Solitude

New research pinpoints the skills people use to benefit from time alone.

Are You Lonely… or Alonely?

How to know if you’re not spending enough time alone, and what to do about it.

The Hunger for Solitude During a Lockdown

Yes, that’s right. Some of us are stuck at home, longing for solitude.

Solitude as Medicine

It turns out that one of solitude’s functions is to calm the nervous system, but our mood usually takes a hit along the way.

Does Solitude “Count” if You’re on Your Phone?

Take yourself out on a date... but leave your phone behind.

4 Reasons Your Teenager Wants to (and Needs to) Be Alone

Science shows that moving toward solitude is a normal part of the adolescent journey.