hikikomori
-
What does the term 'hikikomori' mean?
Hikikomori refers to a condition where individuals exhibit severe social withdrawal, isolating themselves at home for at least six months while avoiding social interaction. Diagnosed through marked socially avoidant behaviors causing distress and dysfunction, these behaviors include refusal to leave home for work, school, or social communication.
Though not a classified mental illness, hikikomori often co-occurs with mental disorders like autism, mood disorders, and personality disorders; it can, however, occur without any mental illness. Treatments are typically psychotherapy-based, with drugs used for co-occurring mental illnesses. Family therapy, home visits, and exercise have proven helpful in reducing the duration of hikikomori.
Formally recognized in Japan in the 1990s, hikikomori has since been documented across various cultures. Psychologists worry that mandated social isolation periods, such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic, may worsen the condition, cause relapses, and trigger new cases.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who is usually affected by hikikomori?
Hikikomori is a condition where people become socially avoidant, staying isolated at home for at least six months. Though not a mental illness, it often co-occurs with conditions like autism, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
Hikikomori was first recognized in Japan in the 1990s, with a 2010 study finding that 1.2% of Japanese people between 20 and 49 years old had experienced it. While it was initially believed to be specific to Japanese sociocultural conditions, it has since been observed in many countries, including the United States, South Korea, and Spain. Psychologists also suggest that the rise of the internet and social media may affect how people form social groups and communicate, potentially influencing the occurrence of hikikomori.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some common signs of hikikomori?
Hikikomori is a condition marked by severe social withdrawal, where individuals remain isolated at home for at least six months, avoiding social interaction.
Common signs include refusing to leave home, go to work, or attend school, along with withdrawing from social communication. Some classifications depend on how often the person leaves home for necessities: mild cases involve leaving two to three times a week, moderate cases once a week, and severe cases rarely involve leaving a single room.
The condition can last for an average of one to four years, but it can vary. Though not a mental illness, it often co-occurs with conditions like autism, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How is hikikomori different from shyness or introversion?
Hikikomori is a condition marked by severe social withdrawal, where individuals remain isolated at home for at least six months, avoiding social interaction. While it shares features with shyness and introversion, hikikomori is distinct.
- Severity and Duration Hikikomori involves extreme avoidance of social situations, work, or school, lasting at least six months, whereas shyness and introversion do not necessarily cause marked dysfunction or distress over a long period.
- Underlying Factors Hikikomori can stem from stressful events, trauma, or dysfunctional family dynamics. It can occur with or without co-existing mental health conditions, unlike shyness or introversion.
- Global Recognition Originally identified in Japan, hikikomori is now recognized in many countries, with the COVID-19 pandemic potentially increasing its prevalence.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What factors can contribute to someone becoming hikikomori?
Hikikomori is a condition marked by severe social withdrawal, where individuals remain isolated at home for at least six months. The causes of hikikomori are not well understood, but stressful events are often a trigger.
Contributing factors may include dysfunctional family settings, trauma, and certain psychological features such as avoiding behaviors to maintain others' positive opinions. Some psychologists also suggest that modern forms of communication via the Internet may reduce the ability to form emotional connections, potentially contributing to the rise of hikikomori. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social isolation are also believed to have increased its prevalence.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How do psychologists and families help people with hikikomori?
Psychologists treat hikikomori with psychotherapy instead of medication, but drugs can treat co-occurring mental illnesses. Japanese patients may visit medical or community centers or engage in therapeutic activities to end social withdrawal. Therapy includes individual, group, and family options. Families learn communication strategies and reduce the condition's stigma, and are encouraged to attend sessions, even if the patient is resistant. Home visits and exercise can also shorten the duration of hikikomori. Some believe social media can help reach those with hikikomori and give valuable treatment.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
hikikomori, condition in which a person is socially avoidant to the point of staying isolated at home for at least six months without social interaction. The term hikikomori can also refer to a person who is experiencing this prolonged socially avoidant condition.
History
Hikikomori was formally recognized and defined in Japan in the 1990s in a book written by Saito Tamaki. A 2010 study in Japan found that 1.2 percent of the Japanese population (between ages 20 and 49) reported having experienced hikikomori. Since its origins, psychologists have debated whether hikikomori should be designated as a psychiatric disorder or whether it should be considered a cultural syndrome. Psychologists originally suspected that hikikomori grew from sociocultural conditions specific to Japan, such as Japan’s education system or economic conditions. However, hikikomori has since been documented in many countries with broad cultural differences, including India, South Korea, Nigeria, the United States, Spain, and Canada, among others.
The COVID-19 pandemic is recognized as having had a significant impact on the prevalence of hikikomori. Psychologists have expressed concern that periods of government-mandated social isolation may prolong the condition, cause relapse, and trigger new cases.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
Characteristics of hikikomori
Hikikomori is diagnosed when a person displays severe socially avoidant behaviors for at least six months, causing distress and dysfunction. These behaviors include refusal to go outside of the home, to work, or to attend school, as well as withdrawing from social communication. Some psychologists classify hikikomori according to how often a patient leaves home for nonsocial reasons, such as grocery shopping. By this framework, people with mild cases leave home two to three times a week, those with moderate cases once a week, and those with severe cases rarely leave a single room. Some psychologists also use pre-hikikomori as a classification in which a person has symptoms but with a duration of only three months. Hikikomori is found in some settings to last an average of one to four years, but duration varies and can be over a decade.
Although it is not currently classified as a mental illness, hikikomori often occurs at the same time as diagnosed mental illness. Studies quantifying the percentage of hikikomori cases that co-occur with mental illness vary, ranging from 54 to 98 percent. Associated conditions include autism spectrum disorder, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders. However, psychologists agree that it is possible to experience hikikomori in the absence of mental illness. When no mental illness is present, the condition is considered to be primary hikikomori. When it is accompanied by a mental illness, the condition is considered to be secondary hikikomori.
The cause of hikikomori is not well established. Many practitioners report that patients become hikikomori after a stressful event triggers new socially avoidant behavior that then extends into hikikomori. Some studies find that hikikomori is correlated with dysfunctional family settings or having experienced trauma. Psychological analysis of people with hikikomori suggests some shared psychological features. Researchers M. Suwa and K. Suzuki identified manifestations of primary hikikomori as episodes of defeat without a struggle, an ideal image that originates from the desires of others rather than oneself, preserving an ideal image of the “expected” self, parental investment in a child’s ideal self, and avoidant behavior to maintain the positive opinion of others.
Treatment of hikikomori
Treatments for hikikomori are generally psychotherapeutic rather than drug-based, although drugs are used to treat co-occurring mental illness. In Japan people with hikikomori may go to medical health centers, join community social centers, or participate in therapeutic activities as treatment meant to pull them out of physical and social withdrawal. Therapy may occur as individual, group, or family therapy, and often psychologists pursue multiple types of therapy at one time. Hikikomori patients are frequently resistant to attending therapy sessions, but family members are encouraged to attend even when the patient will not participate. Family members receive help reducing any stigma of the condition and learn strategies for communicating with the patient. In addition to psychotherapy, home visit support and exercise have been proven helpful in reducing the duration of hikikomori.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
Cultural significance
Some psychologists note the importance of considering whether hikikomori is a new condition that stems from current broad sociocultural conditions. Much of this thinking focuses on the impact of social media and the Internet. Hikikomori can co-occur with Internet addiction, but this correlation has not been shown to be causal. Psychologists note that the global occurrence of hikikomori may relate to changes in how people form social groups and communicate. They suggest that as the Internet allows people to communicate and form groups without being physically present together, it may reduce the ability to form emotional connections, including trust. Others suggest that Internet and social media are positive influences that can provide tools to reach people suffering from hikikomori with valuable treatment.