Reagan Hubbell Professor Cantrell ENGL 1113 29 February 2024 Alex Morris in her article “The Price of Isolation,” discusses how during the Covid 19 pandemic we have worsened the ongoing “epidemic of loneliness,” and how that has affected our mental health. She explains that we are social animals and need each other and is worried that this will hurt our physical health as well. Alex Morris creates compelling arguments through credibility by demonstrating knowledge and her professional background. Through experts and factual evidence, also by giving an emotional appeal to humanity. Alex Morris is very knowledgeable and persuasive. It is clear she has done extensive research on the topic. In her argument, she uses words like “we’ve all” …show more content…
She quotes experts and references studies and experiments. Repeatedly she speaks of neuroscientists Matthew Liberman, Naomi Eisenberger, and Jamil Zaki, just to name a few. Also referencing surgeons, psychologists, and college professors. The author quotes Mattew Liberman in his 2015 study in which he states, “We are literally wired such that, when other distractions fall away, our brain automatically switches to a mode that's more social in nature.” Morris does this to convey the point that we must socialize, it's part of our brain. She uses this same tactic when she references a 2018 study in which “18- to 30-year-olds found that the odds of depression were significantly lowered by face-to-face moral support.” This supports her point that in-person interaction is beneficial to one's mental health. Another way she uses quotes is to compare old information with new information. She uses the example of Aristotle who wrote 2,348 years ago that “man is by nature a social animal.” Morris then compares it to more modern science that suggests in actuality “being social is what makes us human.” When talking about health concerns, she cites Steve Cole, the director of UCLA Social Genomics Core Laboratory, in his research to find out why closeted gay men are dying faster from AIDS than others. Cole found a difference in gene expression, which suggests that closeted gay men are in a constant “fight or flight mode,” …show more content…
She empathizes with the audience and uses imagery to provoke an emotional response. At the very beginning of Morris’s article, she paints a picture of French kids during the Covid 19 pandemic, playing in their own individually drawn out chalk boxes, “playing all alone, together.” She goes on to describe it as “a vision that is imponderably sad.” She uses this image and compares it to everyone during the pandemic who had been in their own “depressing little boxes.” When Morris is talking about how loneliness can harm our bodies, she makes the comment, “what the hell? Why would loneliness do this to a body?” Putting herself into the audience's shoes and reacting to her evidence as she assumes the audience would react. Morris also gives a glimmer of hope when she describes "eudemonic well-being," which essentially is a way to trick the brain out of being lonely. It works when you have a purpose or meaning in life that is greater than “your own immediate self-gratification.” The author believes that the trauma of Covid can make us kinder as a community and values the importance of life. Four years later, and unfortunately, I believe she was
Teens’ feelings of loneliness spiked in 2013 and have remained high since”(page 64). She has a Ph.D. in psychology which helped her establish Ethos. Twenge then collects data and performs interviews in order to form logos. She then appeals to human emotions by explaining how smartphones can drive families apart and cause mental illness in teenagers.
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” General Zaroff isolates himself on his own private island, to prey on the most dangerous prey, humans. He decides to purchase this island as his own for a couple reasons, to lure future game in and to be isolated. The island itself is a perfect place to hunt a human. An island being, a mass of land in the middle of a body of water, allows General Zaroff to hunt with the peace of mind that the game can not escape. General Zaroff was an amazing hunter and planned his game perfectly on his very own island.
Russell (1978), (http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jedp/article/download/46795/25238) established the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness scale, which has been widely employed to this day, and performed a theoretical factor analysis for loneliness. His research and results attracted broad attention around the world. Loneliness can be studied by three approaches: the cognitive process approach, the human needs approach and the behavioral approach. The cognitive process approach emphasizes an individual’s mental awareness and assesses his or her social
One of the challenges of growing up is loneliness. As a small child living in Brooklyn Francie had no friends her age, the kids in her neighborhood that would have been candidates for friends either found her too quiet or shunned her for being different. Betty Smith describes on page 106 how most of Francie's childhood days were spent: "So in the warm summer days the lonesome child sat on her stoop and pretended disdain for the group of children playing on the sidewalk. Francie played with her imaginary companions and made believe they were better than real children. But all the while her heart beat in rhythm to the poignant sadness of the song the children sang while walking around in a ring with hands joined." As time went by and Francie got older she began to get to know a different kind of loneliness. Betty Smith narrates her feelings on page 403: "Spring came early that year and the sweet warm nights made her restless. She walked up and down the streets and through the park. And wherever she went, she saw a boy and a girl together; walking arm-in-arm, sitting on a park bench with their arms around each other, standing closely and in silence in a vestibule. Everyone in the world but Francie had a sweetheart or a friend she seemed to be the only lonely one in Brooklyn without a friend." Loneliness is one of the challenges we must all conquer as part of maturing and it helps us learn to be independent and overcome hardship.
If someone told you that social isolation kills more people than obesity does, would you believe it (Olien)? Social isolation can go beyond the idea of someone locking themselves in their room and not interacting with anyone (physical isolation). It can also be when someone is not feeling connected to society or a certain person (emotional isolation). In fact, in the short story “To Room Nineteen” by Doris Lessing, the protagonist of the story, Susan, found herself needing frequent absences from her family which eventually drove her to commit suicide. People isolate themselves for many different reasons and this feeling of isolation can very much lead to death. Social isolation is a serious medical condition and there are many effects on the mind that can come along which can eventually lead to voluntary and/or involuntary death.
Why can Isolation be deadly? Many people who are isolated or have isolated themselves suffer a higher risk of mental health issues such as anxiety, loneliness, paranoia and depression, which can lead to more serious feelings about yourself like committing suicide. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, it was found people with fewer human contacts had a 26% greater likeliness to die, regardless of age and sex. Social Isolation is the absence of social relationships and can in fact be deadly. The amount of social relationships humans need to be happy varies from person to person, but it is vital that everyone has meaningful relationships and social interactions on a regular basis. A study performed by Holt-Lunstad
I learned that isolation is such a bigger problem amongst people in our day and time. Isolation is very serious and could possibly lead to depression, suicidal thoughts, withdrawal, and social anxiety. With the authors giving this message, I could possibly save someone who I know that could possibly be going through withdrawal or social
Isolation is a popular theme in Ray Bradbury’s short stories. It is in all the short stories that were read in class. I, personally, can identify with this theme because i suffer from depression and anxiety. I know that it is sometimes easier to be alone then to deal with people. I know what it is like to not want or be able to leave the comfort of home.
There has been a considerable amount of inquiry which has associated loneliness to depression, low self-esteem, and physical illness (Hawley & Cacioppo, 2007; Sorkin, Rook, & Lu, 2002). Loneliness can also be detrimental to health as well as overall well-being later in life due to recent evidence implying that it accelerates physiological deterioration and advancement of chronic diseases in the elderly (Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2007).
This model believes that an individual may be free from disease or physical injury however social factors that surrounds a person will determine their wellbeing. In the social dimension of health a person has to be able to interact with people, such as friends and family. According to Antonia C. Lyons and Kerry Chamberlain (2006) Health Psychology a Critical introduction ‘studies have demonstrated an association between what is called social integration and physical health, including mortality rates’. The skill to be able to build healthy relationships may give an individual a positive self-image. Poor social skills may mean that an individual may become isolated or stressed. If an individual becomes stressed and isolated they will be free of disease as they will be physically and mentally fit, however the stress will contribute to the health status of the individual. According to Charles L. Sheridan and Sally A. Radmacher (1992) Health psychology challenging the biomedical model ‘attributes like strength, health and attractiveness can be helpful in coping with
The Homestead Act of 1862 was enforced to help settle the disputes among the people that wanted to obtain a piece of land. In the play Minnie Wright was unable to control the pressure forced upon by her husband, which is similarly related to the hardships homesteading women faced.
Much of the research for this study, of course, focused on loneliness and the findings show that it is viewed in many diverse ways. Just to refresh readers’ memories, “loneliness is defined as perceived deficiencies in one’s ongoing relationships” (Jin & Park, 2012). This means that a person feels as if s/he does not have enough friends or that the friendships that s/he may have are not as fulfilling as might be desired. Jin and Park (2012) say that studies regularly find that people who describe themselves as lonely have problems with interpersonal communication. Other researchers describe loneliness as a “disturbing experience” that results from negative social skills, which includes problems with “interpersonal decoding skills,
In The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, Griffin, the Invisible Man experiences a series of catastrophes where he is opened to isolation, betrayal, and attempts to find an identity. Griffin constantly finds himself moving from place to place, always surrounded by people but people don’t understand him. Despite Griffin not using his invisibility for the right cause, whenever he attempts to settle somewhere, someone betrays him which results in more violence. Griffin is lost, not only trying to find a place to stay but striving to find his own identity, a struggle as appearing invisible hinders his ability to reveal his purpose. Griffin is excluded from society and multiple communities; Griffin is considered isolated physically and mentally.
This brings us to the parallel experienced by the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contemporary research delves deep into the profound effects of isolation on mental health, shedding light on its detrimental impact across various dimensions. Studies indicate a stark correlation between isolation and mental health disorders. According to “Social isolation and the brain: effects and mechanisms” from the online database called Molecular Psychiatry, “Social interactions are considered a basic human need, analogous to other fundamental requirements such as nutrition and sleep”. Not only is this a lifelong need, “primary socialization” is a critical period in human development that occurs within the first 6 weeks of life.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults: A Psychological Perspective COVID-19 was a massive and global problem. The research opportunities for this event are wildly far reaching and will be a focus for decades to come. The focus of the article I chose illustrate some of the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of young adults in the United States. “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults: A Psychological Perspective” delves into the personal experiences of individuals like Luis, Angelica, Yasmina, and Leticia as they navigated through unprecedented challenges like health crises, economic instability, destruction of social relationships, all the way to disruptions in education (Klinenberg, 2020). This article is particularly