Agency is a fundamental primal need for humans, alongside survival needs like water, food, and shelter. Voluntary solitude, such as the example of hiking the Appalachian Trail, can be a profound experience, offering opportunities for self-discovery and human interaction. While some individuals may enjoy voluntary solitude and meeting strangers, others, like the speaker, prefer shared experiences with loved ones. Ultimately, life is perceived as better when shared with people, especially those we love, highlighting the significance of agency and the choice between solitude and companionship in human interactions.
How is the brain affected by solitary confinement? How would you deal with being stranded on a deserted island? And do baby monkeys make the best therapists?
- SOURCES:
- William Broyles Jr., screenwriter, journalism, and former U.S. Marine Corps officer.
- Beatriz Flamini, Spanish mountaineer.
- Craig Haney, professor of psychology at the University of California Santa Cruz.
- Harry Harlow, 20th-century American psychologist.
- Sarah Hepola, author.
- Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa.
- Tree Meinch, freelance writer, editor, and freediver.
- Alexander Selkirk, 18th-century Scottish privateer and Royal Navy officer.
- Cheryl Strayed, writer and podcast host.
- RESOURCES:
- "The Impact of Isolation on Brain Health," by Vibol Heng, Craig Haney, and Richard Jay Smeyne (Neurobiology of Brain Disorders, 2023).
- "What Happens When Humans Are Extremely Isolated?" by Tree Meinch (Discover, 2023).
- "Spanish Climber Leaves Cave After 500 Days in Isolation," by Ciarán Giles (AP News, 2023).
- "Solitary Confinement Is Not 'Solitude': The Worst Case Scenario of Being 'Alone' in Prison," by Craig Haney (The Handbook of Solitude, 2021).
- This Tender Land, by William Kent Krueger (2019).
- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed (2012).
- "The Real Robinson Crusoe," by Bruce Selcraig (Smithsonian Magazine, 2005).
- "Lost at Sea and Back Again," by Sarah Hepola (The Austin Chronicle, 2000).
- "Social Recovery of Monkeys Isolated for the First Year of Life: I. Rehabilitation and Therapy," by Melinda Novak and Harry Harlow (Developmental Psychology, 1975).