The psychology of isolation: A double-edged sword

Isolation reveals the human mind at its best … and its worst. Free from some of the distractions and stressors that harangue them, our minds have the time and space to wander a bit. We might find ourselves lost in thought or daydreaming more often. By lifting that which constrains our cognitive processes to the productive or necessary, we’re letting our minds take a stroll through the metaphorical garden, discovering more about ourselves and life overall. However, severed from the usual social supports they rely on, our minds can feel somewhat lost, adrift in a big sea without the anchors of friends, colleagues, and mentors to keep them in place. 

Self-isolating takes a variety of forms, but it often means working from home, taking classes online, and cancelling plans. These may seem like unequivocally negative situations, but reducing the rigidity and density of our daily activities can give us extra free time and space to think. We tend to prioritize work and essential tasks to keep up with everything. This leaves less time for our minds to wander to ideas that are valuable, but perhaps not vital. Rather than the day being governed by a series of obligations, self-quarantining allows us to finish tasks on our own schedules and leaves time for longer lunches, and time to sip coffee and daydream. With that reduced cognitive load, the mind gets a well-needed break, and you can spend time thinking about other things. This can have a freeing effect on the mind, and people have reported feeling less stressed and more relaxed. While missing out on things may be disappointing, we can certainly appreciate that in today’s fast-paced society, sometimes our minds could use some respite. Studies by researchers such as J.L. Singer, who pioneered work on daydreaming, have suggested that daydreaming and letting your mind wander actively creates happiness. Recent research has created four functions of daydreaming, all of which are constructive, including future planning, creativity, attentional cycling, and dishabituation. Giving ourselves more time to let the mind wander can provide cognitive benefits, and self-isolation has certainly given us the chance to embrace daydreaming while stuck at home. 

Rather than the day being governed by a series of obligations, self-quarantining allows us to finish tasks on our own schedules and leaves time for longer lunches, and time to sip coffee and daydream.

However, the freedoms that self-isolation bring to us come with caveats. We may have less work to do, or less rigidity in our daily lives, but we also have to face working without the helpful distraction of friends nearby or access to our favorite places. Psychologically, human minds thrive when others are around. So, while isolation has freed up more of our thinking space, the circumstances could hinder our ability to be productive. The sharp decrease in external stimuli can actually trigger physiological and psychological changes in humans similar to animals going into hibernation. So, despite having more time to do the things we want to do, our brains can have a hard time doing so.

When taken to the extreme, isolation can have striking impacts on the human psyche. Journalist Sarah Shourd was imprisoned in total isolation for nearly 10,000 hours after accidentally crossing the border between Iraq and Iran in 2009. She began experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations and became detached from reality. Her symptoms only abated when short visits with her imprisoned companions were allotted to her. This type of isolation is more extreme than the self-quarantine most Americans have endured this year, but the way isolation impacts the mind is analogous, even when the severity varies greatly. Clearly, seeing and interacting with people plays a significant role in the health of our cognitive processes.

Psychologically, human minds thrive when others are around. So, while isolation has freed up more of our thinking space, the circumstances could hinder our ability to be productive.

Humans are social creatures, and it is difficult for us to spend lengthy periods of time completely alone. Though we are not totally cut off from our social circles in the digital age, there is something fundamentally different between getting coffee with a friend and calling them on Zoom from a bedroom. Even if that Zoom call seems like a poor substitute for normal social interactions, the human contact it provides adds diversity to our day and exposes our brains to external stimuli that are vital to maintaining a healthy mental state.

Call your friends, even if just to complain about quarantine or reminisce on happier times — your mind will thank you for it. 

Journal of Clinical Nursing (2020). DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15290

Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (1994). DOI: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1994.tb04996.xFrontiers in Psychology (2013). DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00626

Image source: Pixabay.