"Emotional connection" refers to the strong bond or deep feeling of understanding and relating to someone on a deep level. It means feeling a sense of attachment, trust, and empathy towards that person. Full definition
The main reason I think was that the author seemed to use physical pain (and resulting emotional trauma) as the primary method of creating emotional connection with the reader. (cjbrightley.com)
No sense of competitive racing, no sense of control and an almost total lack of emotional connection between you, the car and the road. (metacritic.com)
Consider how new efforts to turn toward your child affected your feelings of emotional connection with him or her. (gottman.com)