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'''Solitude''' is a state of seclusion or '''isolation''', i.e. lack of contact with people or [[love]].  It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, contagious disease, disfiguring features, repulsive personal habits, mental illness, or circumstances of employment or situation.

'''Solitude''' is a state of seclusion or '''isolation''', i.e. lack of contact with people.  It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, contagious disease, disfiguring features, repulsive personal habits, mental illness, or circumstances of employment or situation.

Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without being disturbed. It may be desired for the sake of [[Private|privacy]].

Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without being disturbed. It may be desired for the sake of [[Private|privacy]].

Still, long-term solitude is often seen as undesirable, causing loneliness or reclusion resulting from inability to establish interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, it might even lead to clinical [[depression]]. However, for some people, solitude is not entirely depressing. Still others (e.g. monks) regard long-term solitude as a means of [[spirituality|spiritual enlightenment]]. Indeed, marooned people have been left in solitude for years without any report of psychological symptoms afterwards.

Still, long-term solitude is often seen as undesirable, causing loneliness or reclusion resulting from inability to establish interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, it might even lead to clinical [[depression]]. However, for some people, solitude is not entirely depressing. Still others (e.g. monks) regard long-term solitude as a means of [[spirituality|spiritual enlightenment]]. Indeed, marooned people have been left in solitude for years without any report of psychological symptoms afterwards.

John T. Cacioppo's, University of Chicago, 2008 book, ''Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection'', outlines five distinct pathways through which social isolation contributes to increased illness and early death. He also offers an evolutionary rational for why the subjective sense of social isolation--loneliness--is so profoundly disruptive to human physiology that it impairs [[cognition]] and [[free will|will]] power, alters DNA transcription in immune cells, and leads over time to high blood pressure. [http://www.scienceofloneliness.com ISBN 978-0-393-06170-3]

John T. Cacioppo's, University of Chicago, 2008 book, ''Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection'', outlines five distinct pathways through which social isolation contributes to increased illness and early death. He also offers an evolutionary rationale for why the subjective sense of social isolation--loneliness--is so profoundly disruptive to human physiology that it impairs [[cognition]] and [[free will|will]] power, alters DNA transcription in immune cells, and leads over time to high blood pressure. [http://www.scienceofloneliness.com ISBN 978-0-393-06170-3]

Enforced loneliness (solitary confinement) has been a punishment method throughout [[history]]. It is often considered a form of [[torture]].

Enforced loneliness (solitary confinement) has been a punishment method throughout [[history]]. It is often considered a form of [[torture]].