Total isolation: what is the hikikomori phenomenon ?

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The term hikikomori (literally translated as to withdraw in a cage or locked up), conceptualized by Japanese psychiatrist Tamaki Saito in 1998, designates a phenomenon of severe pathological isolation. It mainly occurs in young men who, forgoing all social interaction, lock themselves away in their homes, sometimes in a single room, for periods that can extend over several years.

Although originating in Japan, this syndrome has since transcended Asian borders, raising many questions about its origins, manifestations, and therapeutic approaches.

A locked-in generation: from Japanese society to a global phenomenon

Initially rooted in the Japanese societal context, characterized by a considerable pressure for socio-economic success, the Hikikomori phenomenon has gradually become globalized, although the prevalence in other countries remains lower.

A 2016 Japanese study counted 540,000 cases in the country among 15-39 year-olds, a figure exceeding one million if older age groups are included. According to the results of the latter, 35% of individuals had been completely isolated, and this voluntarily, for at least seven long years.

What was originally only a response to the rigid norms of Japanese society has spread to countries as diverse as South Korea, Spain and France, raising the question of the universality of this distress, exacerbated by factors such as unemployment or technological isolation.

Internet: catalyst or refuge?

The rise of the Internet has profoundly changed the dynamics of social isolation. For many hikikomori, the virtual world provides a refuge from the demands of the real world, although this digital dependency can paradoxically reinforce their withdrawal.

According to New York psychiatrist Carol Berman, the causes of this characteristic isolation are multiples and can be linked to a variety of mental health imbalances. ” People with mental health issues may have various problems that cause them to avoid going out. For example, someone with a severe anxiety disorder may fear having a panic attack outside ” she explains.

However, there seems to be one common thread: the omnipresence of screens in the lives of hikikomori. “Some people spend their day in front of their screens, never going out” the specialist points out. This hyperconnectivity, coupled with the widespread use of home delivery services, facilitates and accentuates isolation. The latter is then total: no social relations, complete confinement and absolute avoidance of any contact with the outside world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also amplified this phenomenon, offering everyone a legitimate pretext to cloister themselves, which could explain the recent increase in cases of hikikomori.

A complex condition to assess

If the identification of a hikikomori may seem, at first glance, relatively easy – it is an individual who isolates himself permanently at home -, identifying the deep roots of this social withdrawal turns out to be much more arduous. The causes can be very diverse: childhood trauma, complex relationships between male individuals and their mothers, the phenomenon of the king child, strong academic pressure, etc.

These voluntary recluses can be prey to various psychological disorders, ranging from social anxiety to depression to avoidant personality disorder (intense fear of judgment and rejection, leading to systematic avoidance of social interactions and low self-esteem).

Berman underlines the complexity inherent in their management by explaining that the adjustment of drug treatments is sometimes very delicate. The slightest loss of patience or trust on the part of the patient can even worsen their isolation.

CSocial withdrawal then resembles a vicious circle, aggravated by the difficulty of accessing care, particularly when any contact with the outside world is perceived as a potential threat.

The hikikomori phenomenon is often seen as a reflection of an overly complex modern society, where social pressures, heightened individualism and difficulties in integrating can lead some individuals to withdraw from the world, which is too violent for their taste. It is also the mirror of a certain form of exhaustion in the face of performance and constant competitiveness, pushing some to live as modern hermits. The phenomenon is therefore much more than a simple individual choice; it is the symptom of a deeper malaise, linked to our contemporary lifestyle and our social interactions, completely disrupted since the advent of digital technology.

• The hikikomori phenomenon is a voluntary and prolonged isolation, leading some individuals to extreme social withdrawal.
• The reasons that lead individuals to withdraw from the world are varied and can include social, psychological, and personal factors.
• The rise of the Internet and digital technologies has facilitated the isolation of hikikomori by providing them with a way to escape from reality and interact with the world without having to physically confront it.

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