Social Isolation - Effects

Effects

True social isolation over years and decades tends to be a chronic condition affecting all aspects of a person's existence. These people have no one to turn to in personal emergencies, no one to confide in during a crisis, and no one to measure their own behavior against or learn etiquette from — referred to sometimes as social control, but possibly best described as simply being able to see how other people behave and adapt oneself to that behavior. Lack of consistent human contact can also cause conflict with the (peripheral) friends the socially-isolated person might occasionally talk to, or might cause interaction problems with family members. It may also give rise to uncomfortable thoughts and behaviors within the person. Social isolation also affects the community, especially when it involves the elderly. Most of the time they are brought to nursing homes if they show severe signs of social isolation.

The day to day effects of this type of deep-rooted social isolation can mean staying home for days or even weeks at a time, both not contacting and not being contacted by any acquaintances (even peripherally), and not having contact with other people physically. It can also mean that, even if physical or other communicative contact with other people does occur, it is superficial, very occasional, and quite brief. More meaningful, extended relationships, and especially close intimacy (both emotional and physical) are all missing.