Serious studies on isolation show that it affects all age groups. It is not just an issue for older adults, as often caricatured in the media.
Seeing others only rarely leads to superficial relationships. When people see each other regularly, they can talk things out, set boundaries, and offer advice. This is much better for mental health and for overall intelligence. Socialization is essential for human beings. When people spend time together regularly, each person contributes to the lives of others, reducing feelings of uselessness. One of the main risk factors for mental health is a lack of strong family ties. This also applies to the risks of drug use and other addictions. Isolating someone is considered a punishment. When people don’t interact regularly, relationships remain superficial because the potential for mistakes is too high — they simply don’t know each other well enough. According to mediation theory, the more distant people are from one another, the smaller the common denominator becomes, and the poorer the relationship.
Isolation benefits merchants and scammers. Capitalism is a destructive ideology. For commercial reasons, people are kept apart. When people are separated, there’s an increased need for housing, and everything needs to be purchased all over again: washing machines, kitchen appliances, and so on. This encourages overconsumption. Regular socialization makes people less vulnerable to scams and makes people able to get feedback on others’ purchases. For example, people can rely on word of mouth to determine which car to buy. Isolation also leads people to rely more on machines and thus become more dependent on those who operate them: internet searches, social media, television, artificial intelligence, etc. Excessive use of machines can be mind-numbing.
Forcing people to leave their families is not a good idea. For example, in France, universities organize the national “Parcours Sup” movement.
Young adults who get along well with their families and continue to live with their parents are portrayed in movies, TV shows, and other media as people who have failed their lives. There seem to be only two options: isolation or romantic relationship. But there are many other possibilities. The important thing is to have choice. In most cases, it’s better to live with other people — whether they’re family or not — than to be isolated on your own. For those living alone, regular daytime interaction is crucial, such as through participation in associations and clubs.
Furthermore, family and friendship ties foster a sense of solidarity. When someone is going through a difficult time or being exploited by their employer, moving back in with family or friends allows them to spend less money and, as a result, live better. This also provides support and people with whom to brainstorm solutions to get out of this difficult situation.
Provided everyone gets along well, living with others — whether as a family or with friends — can lead to a better quality of life and strong social relationships.
In addition, older adults, or people who are ill or have disabilities, who live alone are vulnerable to abuse of trust and scams. Provided that you get along well — which means being forthright with each other — quitting your job to care for them may be better for that person, since a trusted individual is taking care of them, and it’s more cost-effective. Professional caregivers who assist the elderly, the sick, or people with disabilities are expensive. Nursing homes are very expensive and drain the elderly of all their money. If children took care of their elderly relatives — even if they were paid for it — the inheritance would stay within the family, which would be more beneficial for everyone involved. The elderly would also have the opportunity to socialize with others and exchange ideas with them. In return, the elderly can help by offering advice and sharing ideas and experiences.
Masculinist radicalization, jihadist radicalization, and cults exploit the weakness of family ties. Families are often surprised to learn that their loved ones have been recruited. Living together in the same community and seeing each other several times a week helps families stay closer and act as a protective shield before things escalate.
Bridget Jones – All By Myself: https://youtu.be/t8iTZm8-mbA?si=rMCPT4jE-mbeScC
Translated with DeepL and Ollama TranslateGemma
