Introduction to Social Isolation

 Introduction 

            The concept of social isolation has been systematically researched during only the last 50 years,

 unlike some social scientists tend to regard social isolation as negative rather than positive. Social

 isolation is a state of complete and nearly complete lack of contact between an individual and society.  

Social Isolation Definitions 

            "Social isolation denotes to a lack of quantity and quality of social contacts" (Delisle, 1988).

            "Social isolation can also be defined asthe lack of contact or of sustained interaction with individuals or institutions that represent mainstream society" (Wilson, 1987).

            "Living 'without companionship, having low levels of social contact, little social support, feeling separate from others, being an outsider, isolated and suffering loneliness" (Hawthorne, 2006).

            "The distancing of an individual, psychologically or physically, or both from his or her network of desired or needed relationships with other persons, is called social isolation" (Biordi & Nicholson, 2013). 

Difference between social isolation and loneliness 

                Social isolation is the objective physical separation from other people (living alone) while loneliness is the subjective distressed feeling of being alone or separated. Social isolation and loneliness are not the same concept but isolation can cause loneliness which is an emotional state. 

Theories on Social isolation 

  • Social control theory
            Travis Hirschi proposed the social control theory in 1969. It is also known as Social bond theory. Hirschi refers to four elements which constitutes the societal bond. These bonds include Attachment (to other individuals), Commitment (to following rules), Involvement (by typical social behavior) and belief (a basic value system). When one of these four items break down then an individual prefers social isolation or to do crime. The social control theory was posited to explain the effects of isolation (Hirschi, 1969).  

  • Gidden's structuration theory
            Gidden's structuration theory is used to unravel in which way the socially isolated perpetuate or even aggravate their situation. A deeper analysis is made of several basic concepts such as practical and discursive consciousness, rules and resources, routinization and unintended consequences of actions are very useful for a theoretical approach to social isolation. This theory tells that the emergence and persistence of social isolation is the unintended consequences of patterns that people follow in their actions (Giddens, 1984). 

  • Mass Society theory 

Mass society theory is a complex, multifaceted perspective. As applied to social movements, however, the basic idea is that people who are socially isolated are especially vulnerable to the appeals of extremist movements (Kornhauser, 1959).


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