Browsing by Author "Takkunen, Laura"

Social withdrawal is a comprehensive phenomenon previously studied mainly in Japan as 'hikikomori'. It has been connected to social as well as psychological and societal factors. The aim of this study was to examine the appearance of social withdrawal in Finland. Social withdrawal was investigated from the social exclusion perspective. The study aspired to describe the ordinary life of socially withdrawn young and to seek answers to the question of what kind of people they are. The study also endeavored to detect the factors that might be associated with the onset and continuation of the process of social withdrawal. The methods of the study included structural interview and the analysis of a message board used by socially withdrawn people. The interviewees were two men who were withdrawn, and the interviews were implemented via e-mail. The message board data, including 32 conversations, was collected from Hikikomero, a section of internet forum site Ylilauta. The analysis of the data was carried out by using content analysis. The results of the study implement that social withdrawal is a self-feeding phenomenon largely affecting lives of the people who are withdrawn. The study supports the assessment of social withdrawal as a male-dominating phenomenon. From the factors appearing in relation to the onset of the withdrawal, experiences of inability to fulfill the cultural expectations imposed for men and social disappointments were detected. From the background of social withdrawal it was possible to detect experiences of peer victimization and mental illnesses. From the factors appearing in relation to the continuation of social withdrawal the most salient ones were social phobia, depression and the inability to create and maintain relationships. The reaching of the withdrawn trough a message board creates hope to tackle the solitude developing adversely.