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Research on extreme social withdrawal, hikikomori outside Japan

Angular Chap

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
I found this research on hikikomori, which starts off by suggesting using the term "extreme social withdrawal" (ESW) to acknowledge the existence as being worldwide, not just specific to Japanese culture. It mentions autism multiple times and goes into other comorbid conditions:

Contemporary Hermits: A Developmental Psychopathology Account of Extreme Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori) in Young People - Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review

I also learned that Spain has it's own term for the phenomenon: síndrome de la puerta cerrada, closed door syndrome.
 
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All we have in the US are derogatory terms; 'shut-in', 'hermit', etc.

I'm one of them and I find all of the insulting terms hilarious in and of themselves, because most people can't even understand why someone would want to withdraw socially. Must be nice to see the world that way, lol.

I'm really glad to see the phenomenon recognized like this, though. I think it needs some research and attention for real
 
All we have in the US are derogatory terms; 'shut-in', 'hermit', etc.

I'm one of them and I find all of the insulting terms hilarious in and of themselves, because most people can't even understand why someone would want to withdraw socially. Must be nice to see the world that way, lol.

I'm really glad to see the phenomenon recognized like this, though. I think it needs some research and attention for real
I was unaware these terms were derogatory! That's kind of fun. I've been calling myself shut-in or hermit for many years now, with some sense of pride too. I especially love this short-lived tradition in the past for people to take care of a hermit that gets to live in their expansive yard somewhere and gives advice to people that seek him out.
I believe part of the population will always function better as the wizard in his isolated tower, not removed from society, but left to his own devices to work. I see this a lot in artists, the way their potentials are crushed under the one-size-fits-all career model our world runs on right now.
I'll definitely give this a read. While the reasons to seek out solitude are never good, it's an undeniably beautiful thing and has done so much more for my growth as a person than any amount of social participation.
 
I've been called a hermit a few times myself. And by my own kin.

Though I can't say I've ever thought of it as a derogatory term. It may imply varying degrees of being reclusive, but I've never associated it with other terms like "hobo" or "indigent".

Now if someone were to call me a real-life Walter Eckland, I'd probably smile and give them a fist-bump. :cool:

 
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I guess this is common with people with autism?

Myself, what i can do if i am really bad with making acquaintances and friends, i won't go to look for them anymore for now at least, on top of autism i am healing from damage of a withdrawal symptoms of a drug some 'good doctor' gave me, and other stuff.
 
Before I was diagnosed, I took a test that decided how able you are as a communicator. The lowest was a hermit.


Yeah…


It was at this place:

 

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