Week 7 [13-19.06.2016]
I want to present interesting subject about disease from Asia called hikikomori. In general hikikomori is a syndrome typical for people who are able only to communicate via Internet with the others. Youths who seclude themselves in their own home have no friends in real life.
Some of them are
sitting in their room every day, the food is prepared by their mother
and left behind the doors, so they don't even need to go out and talk
with family.
The questions arises as to should be aware of that hikikomori can occur in Poland? Or maybe we already can observe some of the symptoms among young adults?
Is Internet addiction dangerous in European countries or maybe it is typical only for Asia?
Hi, first of all, according to the article hikikomori is a Japanese invention. In my opinion this is very important fact, since Japan has a bit awkward (in terms of European standards) culture. On the other hand in Europe there are lots of NEEETs ("Not in Education, Employment, or Training"). You can have a look at last year's report here: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/young-people-and-neets-1. I think that the Japanese condition starts with being a NEEET along with some video game or virtual life addiction.
ReplyDeleteI think that problem occurs in wealthier countries, or to be more precise, wealthier families, since hikikomori person has to be served, e.g. provided with food. With sufficient income form parents young people might have problems with motivation to work or educate. Personally I know a two persons over 30 who is NEEET and lives with his parents, so I can observe the symptoms but I'm not sure if I can tell they're young.
Thanks for your reply. Maybe in European countries we can observe something like hikikomori among adults? In my opinion that interesting hypothesis requires more work and research.
DeleteHikikomori is mostly a Japanese phenomenon, cases have been found in the United States, Morocco, Oman, Spain, Italy, South Korea and France. Recent research using the same standardized definition of hikikomori has found evidence of its existing in other countries as wide-ranging as the United States and India. As you can read in Newsweek such cases exists also in Poland.(http://polska.newsweek.pl/narkomani-internetu,73739,1,1.html)
ReplyDeleteMarcin
That's good point, some of the symptoms can be observed in Poland, but Internet addiction is only one symptom. It's interesting, how that addiction can affect on other life aspects like interaction with others in real life.
DeleteHikikomori is mostly a Japanese phenomenon, cases have been found in the United States, Morocco, Oman, Spain, Italy, South Korea and France. Recent research using the same standardized definition of hikikomori has found evidence of its existing in other countries as wide-ranging as the United States and India. As you can read in Newsweek such cases exists also in Poland.(http://polska.newsweek.pl/narkomani-internetu,73739,1,1.html)
ReplyDeleteMarcin
The questions arises as to should be aware of that hikikomori can occur in Poland?
ReplyDeleteWe had a movie about it, titled "Sala Samobójców". There is a chance that this so called disease will spread in Poland, but i doubt it.
Or maybe we already can observe some of the symptoms among young adults?
As I have already written, we can observe first symptoms, but it's far from being critical.
Is Internet addiction dangerous in European countries or maybe it is typical only for Asia?
Mostly in Asia, because of their culture, behaviour and so on. They have the highest rate of suicides in the world since I remember.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this interesting paper.
One has to remember that Europe and Asia differ so much thtat hikikomori will not occur in the presented form in Poland. However, it is just another form of depression.
As it has been mentioned "Sala samobójców" is a great example of such a possible situation. The main character withdraws from the social life, refuses to leave his room - it is the only place where he feels comfortable. Then he becomes addicted to the virtual friends. In fact, I have not heard of any such an example from the real life.
Is Internet addiction dangerous in European countries or maybe it is typical only for Asia?
I am afraid I don't know enough about the differences between the cultures. Altough, I suspect that the social norms in Asia may be influencing the phenomena.
Thank You for your reply. I newer saw that movie, but I can not say that I don't disagree with you. I my opinion in Poland people with Internet addiction are likely to be more depressed.
DeleteAdolescents with reclusive hikikomori live, often for long periods in their room at the home of their parents. Not feeling in harmony with the outside world, they fade out and refuse any contact with others. This condition is not related to any neurological disease. This is a manifestation of despondency in the face of social and academic pressures of competitiveness, that teenagers can not afford and prefer to flee in isolation. This phenomenon is often seen in Japan.
ReplyDeleteThe economic factor also comes into account. So Andy Furlong, a Glasgow University academic, binds the rising phenomenon hikokomori the bursting of the economic bubble in Japan in the 1980s and early 1990s recession The logic that good results school led to good universities, which gave good jobs for life, broke. And the new generation has had to confront the precariousness of the working world.
hikikomori can occur in Poland?really,I don't know the situation in Poland
Hikikomori is more than a medical and psychiatric disease: it is a complex cultural condition that requires a multidimensional explication to be fully understood. Even an unambiguous definition and universally accepted diagnostic criteria have not been established so far. Different terms, such as acute social withdrawal, prolonged social withdrawal, severe social withdrawal and social isolation, are in fact currently used by researchers to describe hikikomori and hikikomori-like cases. Despite the fact this illness was described in Japan, in my opinion this problem touches all the modern world. It started in Japan because this country has a specific approach to work and career. Nevertheless other countries as USA or UK also change their work and career approach like in Japan. Therefore hikikomori is developing all over the world. I reckon this disaster is in Poland also but our doctors don’t know about such kind of illness.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article. I remember hearing about hikkomori a couple of years ago. Back then, such condition sounded for me like a science fiction concept. Now, with the current living standards and Internet connectivity, it's not that abstract anymore.
ReplyDeleteI had seen "Sala Samobójców" (rightfully mentioned by Mateusz P) but until now it didn't occur to me that it actually depicts an extreme case of hikkomori. I though it focused more on the critique of hate/bullying in social media and workaholism. While watching this movie it's easy to imagine similar scenarios occurring in European schools. So I guess the problem is not that typical for Asia anymore.
Thank you for the interesting article. I do not know whether this problem may occur in Poland on such a scale. Our culture is significantly different from the cultures of Asia. My friend who works at the University of Calgary, often comparing the culture Asians and the culture of Western civilization. They are firmly focused on success and on the job. They achieve the best results. This enormous pressures may lead to the described situation. The problem is when is the most important success but something pulls you down. I think that certain groups of people are exposed to it in Poland. These people are fleeing from the requirements posed by the environment. It is specific escape its own "secure" world
ReplyDeleteThis will occure everywhere in the world. We see it in Asia because they are much more advanced in terms of technology. In Asia there is also a strong culture of eSport, gamers are as popular as Ronaldo in Europe. Not every gamer become a professional but his life is dedicated to computer. Internet and technology is great but it also has a dark side, addiction.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with your assessment. Take for example the Yamaguchi craze that happen about 20 years ago. It originated in Japan, took over half of the western world but failed completely in Poland. Many toy importers got badly burnt in the process.
DeleteI never have heard about hikikomori. Considering distinctiveness of Japanese culture I don't think we shall ever observe this syndrome in Poland. Polish people in my opinion are very open and ready for face to face contacts and verbal communication.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that came to my mind when we are talking about such condition like Hikkomori in Poland was a movie "Sala samobójców" and as I can see in posted comments I wasn't the only one. Hikkomori looks like kind of depression related with internet addiction. I am not sure how many people suffer from it in Poland, but the depression is quite a common disease. In my opinion, causes of both of them could be similar - a lot of stress and pressure in life.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThank you for this interesting subject.
It looks like I was not the only one to think about “Sala samobójców”. It is not about my generation, but if Jan Komasa has had an idea to turn the movie observing today’s teenagers it is a sign hikikomori is now occurring in Poland as well. We might call it differently, but it does not change the fact that the phenomenon exists in our country. It is related to a fear of relationships (of which I am not surprised especially observing regression of values higher than money, power or popularity) and a kind of desperate trials to compensate this lack in the virtual world.
Internet addiction is a well-known phenomenon occurring all over the world. I do not feel an expert in Asian cultures, which seem to be quite diversified, so I will not try to look for causes why hikikomori occurs there in first instance.
I have never heard about hikkomori before, but I think we can find some features common for polish web surfers. In Poland Internet is a place, where people feel free and anonymous. They are looking for virtual friends etc. and unfortunately can loose contact with real world outside their room. Sometimes they are fulfil sense of their life by putting comments, which contain their frustration or bad mood. I think that the hikkomori can not be present in Poland, but for sure polish society has similar problems. Scale will be less than in Japan for sure.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of this phenomenon before. It looks like it might occur in any country. I find it really strange. I'm not sure what can be done to counteract.
ReplyDeleteThanks for interesting article. In my opinion that is very earnest problem. Yes, there are more and more people who spent all his/her time in room with computer. I know one person who spent all time in his room. He eats, sleep and spent whole time alone. It is crying shame to see that situatiuon becouse I can not do anything to go with him outside. I had tried many times – no result. If you have any idea please give me advice.
ReplyDeletePeople should be prepare to figth with that kind of problem – it is necessary – that I think.
I have a similar feeling as Piotr. It seems to me that the symptoms occurring in the case of hikikomori can touch more and more people, regardless of nationality. New technologies and internet services not only sparing our time, but also eliminates the need for direct contact with another person. Recently we talked about electronic personal assistants. This is just another example, to have the choice of whether to talk to a machine, or with another person.
ReplyDelete