Reading 1001 discussion

What are the causes? Is it externally or self imposed? What are the effects of social isolation?

What are some examples of social isolation today?

Social isolation is a separation of a person from society and can be caused by both internal and external factors. External factors include physical distance from others in one's environment (i.e. living in a rural and sparsely populated setting). Internal factors include withdrawal from other people brought on by mental or physical reasons. Effects of social isolation include loneliness, helplessness, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, a tendency to more readily acquire physical illnesses, and a shorter life span.

It is believed that the increase in social media and virtual contact is contributing to social isolation today by causing less personal interaction between people. It gives some people an opportunity to interact with others without really interacting. Social media also portrays an idealized lifestyle that less than secure people might feel they don't live up to (since people tend to show an overly optimistic portrayal of themselves to the rest of the world), causing more social withdrawal. Texting and talking on the phone often detract from the interaction with the people we are actually with at the time, since we often give priority to the person on the other side of the device instead of the person we are physically next to.

Diane wrote: "Social isolation is a separation of a person from society and can be caused by both internal and external factors. External factors include physical distance from others in one's environment (i.e. ..."

Those are good examples of social isolation today, Diane. I heard a woman on the radio say that for large family gatherings her father now asks everyone to put their smart phones into a basket at the door and to leave them there until they leave.

John wrote: "I heard a woman on the radio say that for large family gatherings her father now asks everyone to put their smart phones into a basket at the door and to leave them there until they leave...."

That's a great idea.