204. What Happens When You’re Cut Off From All Human Contact?

31 snips

Jul 21, 2024

What happens to our brains when cut off from human contact? The hosts explore the profound psychological effects of isolation versus solitude, using real-life stories like a climber's 500 days in a cave. Can baby monkeys serve as therapists for social recovery? They delve into the harrowing experiences of historical figures like Alexander Selkirk and the importance of reintegration into society. The conversation highlights how connection shapes our identity and mental health, raising intriguing questions about our need for social interaction.

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ANECDOTE

Cast Away Inspiration

Screenwriter William Broyles Jr. developed the idea for Wilson the volleyball while at survival camp.
He spent days learning basic survival skills, but found the emotional and spiritual challenge surprising.

INSIGHT

Luxury Loneliness

Angela Duckworth recounts her 10-day COVID quarantine at a friend's luxurious Miami house.
Despite the comfort, she experienced loneliness, highlighting the essential human need for social connection.

INSIGHT

Involuntary vs. Voluntary Isolation

Involuntary isolation, like Angela Duckworth's quarantine, impacts people differently than voluntary isolation.
A change in mindset from voluntary to involuntary significantly alters the psychological experience.

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Social Recovery of Monkeys Isolated for the First Year of Life: I. Rehabilitation and Therapy

I. Rehabilitation and Therapy

Harry Harlow

Harry Harlow's research, published in Developmental Psychology in 1975, details a study on the effects of social isolation on rhesus monkeys. The study involved isolating infant monkeys for their first year of life and then observing their social recovery when introduced to younger, 'therapist' monkeys. The findings highlighted the importance of early social interaction for healthy development and the potential for rehabilitation through interaction with peers. Harlow's work significantly contributed to our understanding of attachment theory and the impact of early experiences on social behavior. His methods, while controversial today, provided valuable insights into the development of social skills and emotional well-being.

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe

The novel follows Robinson Crusoe, a young and impulsive Englishman, who ignores his parents' advice and sets out to sea. After a series of misadventures, including being captured by pirates and sold into slavery, he is eventually shipwrecked on a deserted island near the coast of Venezuela. There, he spends 28 years surviving against incredible odds, encountering cannibals, captives, and mutineers. The story is influenced by real-life castaways such as Alexander Selkirk and blends elements of Puritan spiritual autobiography, travel literature, and adventure stories. It is considered one of the first modern novels in the English language and explores themes of ambition, self-reliance, civilization, and power.

This Tender Land

William Kent Krueger

Set in the summer of 1932, the story follows Odie O’Banion, his brother Albert, their friend Mose, and a young girl named Emmy as they escape from the harsh Lincoln Indian Training School in Minnesota. They journey down the Gilead and Mississippi Rivers, encountering various characters, including struggling farmers, traveling faith healers, and displaced families. The novel explores themes of resilience, the human condition, and the search for belonging during a time of great hardship.

Wild

From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed

In 'Wild', Cheryl Strayed recounts her journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone, a trek that spans from the Mojave Desert to Cascade Locks, Oregon. The book chronicles her physical and emotional struggles as she confronts her past, including the death of her mother, the breakdown of her family, and the end of her marriage. Through her experiences with nature, encounters with various people, and reflections on her life, Strayed finds a path to healing and self-discovery. The memoir is known for its vivid descriptions, honest portrayal of grief and personal growth, and the author's unique narrative style that interweaves past and present events.