Hikikomori (ひ き こ も り or 引 き 篭 り) is the Japanese term to describe patients suffering from this voluntary recruitment syndrome. The term Hikikomori was coined by the psychiatric specialist Tamaki Saito in 2000 and literally means “recruitment, isolation”.
What phenomena has caused this disease?
The first documented Hikikomori dates from 1988 when the current term was still unknown. One was very close to ours, so we can consider this a relatively new syndrome.
The disease originated in Japan, a culture that prioritizes joint need overriding one's own individual. We have already talked about this topic many times, but regarding the Hikikomoris it is essential to understand this concept. A society that uses a daily double face and that cancels the individual, prioritizing the group and that functions as a great social gear is the ideal environment for this type of individual psychological illness. Japanese men are subjected to great social pressure which begins with their own parents. And it continues throughout his life in the labor, social and conjugal sphere.
But we cannot say that Japanese culture is the direct cause of this disease, although it originated in the Japanese country, statistics show us how other countries around the world have also been victims of this phenomenon. Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile are clear examples. Where it is estimated that up to 16% of the adolescent population has suffered to a greater or lesser degree from this disease. As an extra data in Spain, only in the region of Catalonia, 164 new cases were counted in 2016. The western case with the greatest scope being that of a patient in prison for more than 30 consecutive years.
In Japan they already consider this social phenomenon an epidemic of the modern era.
Experts warn about this disease, assuming the misinformation of relatives the first risk factor.
In Japan, the reaction of relatives is usually to wait. Although they are aware that the adolescent does not intend to rejoin society by themselves, families often have the idea that this disease belongs to a phase that the patient himself must overcome. Added to all this is the fact that in a Japanese society, having a Hkikomori child is an embarrassment to the family. This is due to the popular misconception that Hikikomoris suffer from this disease because of poor education. And they do not give notice or seek outside help until after at least 3 years according to the average. Because of this, and many other facts, misinformation is considered the greatest danger against this disease.
In Western countries, however, the natural reaction of the patient's parents or relatives is usually to try to force the Hikikomori to reintegrate into society. Aggravating in most cases his social phobia and his need for confinement.
The idea that this disease is strictly related to new technologies is also popularized. Being in reality, a means that these people use to keep themselves entertained during their confinement. In the event that a Hikikomori did not have the Internet, or video games, he could always resort to the old forms of entertainment. Such as movies, series or reading. Therefore, we cannot say that technology is the cause of this disease, rather it is a means that makes the patient's situation more bearable.
Hikikomori ako now