Loner
August 8, 2007
alucard202
A loner is a label for a person who shuns, or is isolated from (or is deemed to be isolated from) human interaction. A loner is someone who isn’t chronically around other people, voluntarily or involuntarily.
There are many reasons for solitude, intentional or otherwise. Various mental illnesses and social difficulties can be linked to reclusiveness, however no specific cause is implied by the term loner. The term loner is usually used with a negative connotation in the belief that humans are social creatures and those that do not participate are different, and the label has often been applied pejoratively by the media to individuals. In some cases there is a certain romanticism in the idea of the Loner, or "Lone Wolf" (see The Lone Ranger) and the concept of a lonely hero is a recurring theme in stories.
Reasons for being loners
Some individuals refuse to interact with others because of perceived or accurate superiority in terms of ethics or intellect. They wish to only relate to individuals they consider worthy of their time and attention. Therefore, this type of loner will have very few intimate relationships. Many feel anxious in their presence because they perceive the loner’s disdain towards them. It is also common for people to believe them to be arrogant and egoistic.
Related to the above is the socializing aspect of a loner: focusing on certain traits, some loners socialize greatly with those in whom they can confide. Unfortunately it takes time for this bond to occur and when someone unknown to a loner enters the social group, the loner will automatically shell up. Shy or lacking self-esteem, some loners can only socialize with people they see constantly. This is in part due to the fact that many are overly self-conscious and believe people are constantly sizing up their attributes. Insecure loners find it excruciating to be in the physical presence of others because they worry they will be judged negatively. Anxiety is a common feature of most of their social interactions. Self-hatred is sometimes the underlying motivation for why a person may isolate himself or herself. A sense of alienation from society can develop as a result.
While expressing a desire to be alone most of the time, loners do not necessarily reject human contact completely. An example would be the person who shuns any social interaction with work colleagues beyond what is necessary for fulfilling his or her job description (mainly for practical reasons and to avoid further complicating one’s professional relationships) but who is actually fun and extroverted during parties or social gatherings with people outside work, or vice-versa.
Entry Filed under: Kind of Thinking
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