Solitude of a person means seclusion or isolation, i.e. lack of contact with other
people. It may stem from deliberate choice, contagious disease, disfiguring features or repulsive personal habits, or
circumstances of employment or situation (see castaway).
Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without being disturbed. It may be desired for
privacy.
Long-term solitude is often seen as undesirable, causing loneliness or reclusion, resulting from inability to establish relationships. However, for some people solitude is not depressing. Still others
(e.g. monks) regard long-term solitude as a means of spiritual enlightenment.
A distinction can be made between physical and mental seclusion. People may seek physical seclusion to remove distractions and
make it easier to concentrate, reflect, or meditate. However, it's not the end in itself and once a certain capacity to resist
distractions is achieved, people become less sensitive to distractions and more capable of maintaining mindfulness and staying
inwardly absorbed and concentrated. Such people, unless on a mission of helping others, don't seek any interaction with the
external physical world. Their mindfulness is their world, at least ostensibly.
Symptoms from externally imposed isolation often include anxiety, sensory illusions, or even distortions of time and
perception. Young humans tend to adapt better to isolation than older humans do. Pioneering research in this area was done by
McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Different types
There are two different common types of human isolation. These are known as Protective Isolation and Source Isolation. They
are different in that one is voluntary, while the other is not.
Protective isolation is the type of isolation created in tests. This can usually be classified by the fact that one can opt
out of the experiment, or the isolation. It can often be prepared for, and is generally not a negative thing. (More often than
not, there is a reward for the subject's time as an experiment.)
Source isolation includes no benefits, and cannot be prepared for. Thus, it is usually undesirable, and is not very
common.
Emotional isolation is a term used to describe a state of isolation where the
individual is emotionally isolated, but may have a well functioning social network.
Other uses
As a punishment
Isolation, in the form of solitary confinement is a punishment used in many
countries throughout the world for prisoners accused of serious crimes, those who may be at risk in the prison population (such
as pædophiles), those who may commit suicide and those unable to participate in the prison
population due to sickness or injury.
As a treatment
In addition, psychiatric institutions may also institute full isolation or partial isolation for certain patients,
particularly the violent or subversive, in order to minister to their particular needs and protect the rest of the recovering
population from their influence.
See also
References
- Psychology
Today: Solitude vs Loneliness
- Merriam-Webster
Online solitude
External links
- The Call of Solitude - How spending time alone can enhance intimacy, by Ester Buchholz (Psychology Today
Magazine, Jan/Feb 1998)
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