Humans are fundamentally social beings. Our connections with others offer opportunities for support and nurturance but can also be potent sources of stress and pain. In this talk, I will describe my research examining the psychological and biological mechanisms that connect negative interpersonal experiences to our physical health. First, using evidence from disease models of asthma and the common cold, I will show how potent interpersonal stressful events occurring during the first two decades of life contribute to both nearer-term and longer-term physical health outcomes. Specifically, I will focus on experiences of social rejection and family acrimony, emphasizing the role the immune system plays in carrying these negative experiences over time to affect health. Next, I will present work showing that receiving a hug may protect against the harmful psychological consequences of negative interpersonal experiences in daily life. I will conclude by discussing future research plans.