The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens
This article appraises cultural understanding and controversies regarding hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal), with reference to research over the past 20 years. Initially viewed as a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, hikikomori is now recognised globally, prompting a re-evaluation of its cultural,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BJPsych International |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056474024000382/type/journal_article |
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| _version_ | 1832579142702333952 |
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| author | Yoko Nagai Amy Kartar Magdalena Pfaff Hussien Elkholy |
| author_facet | Yoko Nagai Amy Kartar Magdalena Pfaff Hussien Elkholy |
| author_sort | Yoko Nagai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article appraises cultural understanding and controversies regarding hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal), with reference to research over the past 20 years. Initially viewed as a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, hikikomori is now recognised globally, prompting a re-evaluation of its cultural, psychological and socioeconomic demographics. A revision in lifestyle after the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing technological advancements – particularly the rise of social media, gaming and the internet – have paradoxically both exacerbated isolation and provided new forms of social interaction for young adults who confine themselves at home. This phenomenon underlines the complex interplay between putative individual psychopathology, neurodiversity and broader societal shifts across the globe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9efe7b8d447447b981b30598c95f151a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-4740 2058-6264 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych International |
| spelling | doaj-art-9efe7b8d447447b981b30598c95f151a2025-01-30T12:42:53ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych International2056-47402058-62642025-02-0122222410.1192/bji.2024.38The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lensYoko Nagai0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2166-3298Amy Kartar1Magdalena Pfaff2Hussien Elkholy3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2132-6336Clinical Neuroscience Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UKClinical Neuroscience Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UKClinical Neuroscience Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UKClinical Neuroscience Department, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UKThis article appraises cultural understanding and controversies regarding hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal), with reference to research over the past 20 years. Initially viewed as a uniquely Japanese phenomenon, hikikomori is now recognised globally, prompting a re-evaluation of its cultural, psychological and socioeconomic demographics. A revision in lifestyle after the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing technological advancements – particularly the rise of social media, gaming and the internet – have paradoxically both exacerbated isolation and provided new forms of social interaction for young adults who confine themselves at home. This phenomenon underlines the complex interplay between putative individual psychopathology, neurodiversity and broader societal shifts across the globe.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056474024000382/type/journal_articleHikikomorisocial withdrawaltransculturalCOVID-19paradox |
| spellingShingle | Yoko Nagai Amy Kartar Magdalena Pfaff Hussien Elkholy The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens BJPsych International Hikikomori social withdrawal transcultural COVID-19 paradox |
| title | The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| title_full | The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| title_fullStr | The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| title_full_unstemmed | The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| title_short | The paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| title_sort | paradox of hikikomori through a transcultural lens |
| topic | Hikikomori social withdrawal transcultural COVID-19 paradox |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056474024000382/type/journal_article |
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