Key points

In Brazil, loneliness often hides behind a smile.

Joy as a cultural expectation makes disconnection hard to admit.

Loneliness, solitude, and saudade carry distinct meanings.

Outward sociability doesn’t guarantee real connection.

When joy is a cultural expectation, admitting disconnection becomes painful.

"I think that a striking characteristic of loneliness in Brazil is this: it smiles," a participant told us. "The lonely person in Brazil pretends that it's fine…The smile is to camouflage the pain."

This observation emerged from a multi-country study examining how people across diverse contexts experience social connection and loneliness. We interviewed 50 people across Brazil of different ages, regions, and degrees of loneliness. What we found reveals how cultural expe

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