Skip to content We talk about helping people feel seen. Science shows it goes deeper than that.
When people feel recognized, trusted, and valued, their bodies release 𝐚 “𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐄” 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. As described by researcher Loretta Graziano Breuning in “Meet Your Happy Chemicals” (2012), this “𝐃𝐎𝐒𝐄” 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫:
· 𝐃𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞, which rewards progress and goal achievement.
· 𝐎𝐱𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐧, which builds trust and connection.
· 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧, which reinforces respect and belonging.
· 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐬, which reduce stress and restore balance.
These natural responses explain why the best people experiences are built on genuine human moments. The smallest acts of recognition can trigger powerful physiological effects that ripple through motivation, creativity, and collaboration.
When people feel unseen, stress hormones rise and curiosity fades. Their capacity for problem-solving and empathy diminishes. Over time, they protect themselves by withdrawing.
When they feel seen, their DOSE systems activate and release energy, optimism, and openness. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2024 continues to show that 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Feeling valued is not a perk. It is chemistry that powers culture.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬
𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤: “What moved forward for you this week?” This cues dopamine by acknowledging effort and results.
𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. Oxytocin rises when people feel safe to speak candidly and know their input will not be used against them.
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬. Serotonin increases when contributions are respected and visible to peers.
𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. Whether reflection, gratitude, or laughter, it signals the body to reset and recharge through endorphins.
𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. The “DOSE” framework reminds us that belonging and motivation are not abstract ideas. They are biological realities we can design for. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥.
