Loner

"For the Marvel Comics series, see Loners. For the CBS television series, see The Loner."

A loner is a label for a person who does not actively seek, avoids, or is isolated from human interaction. 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. The label has often been applied pejoratively by the media to individuals deemed strange or pathetic. The loner may take pride in or be ashamed of his or her behavior.

In some cases there is a certain romanticism in the idea of the Loner since he or she is seen as special and unique. This can be attributed to the notion that truly great people often lurk in the shadows of societies that espouse corrupt and superficial standards of existence. As a result, the concept of a lonely hero is a recurring theme in stories. [cite book|title=The Outsider|last=Wilson|first=Colin|publisher=Indigo|date=1997]

Possible reasons

Some individuals refuse to interact with others because of perceived or actual superiority in terms of ethics or intellect. They relate only to individuals they consider worthy of their time and attention. Therefore, this type of loner will have very few intimate relationships. Many non-loners feel anxious in their presence because they perceive the loner's disdain towards them; it is also common for such people to believe that loners are arrogant and egotistic.

Loners may socialize greatly with those in whom they can confide. It takes a long 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 socialize only 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 difficult to be in the physical presence of others because they worry they will be judged negatively. Anxiety is a common feature of their new social interactions. A sense of alienation from society can develop as a result. [cite journal|title=Adult life-styles and their precursors in the social behaviour of children and adolescents|last=Pulkkinen|first=Lea|journal=European Journal of Personality|date=Sep 1990|volume=4|issue=3|pages=237-251]

Possible characteristics

While expressing a desire to be alone, loners do not necessarily reject human contact entirely. 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 highly charismatic during parties or social gatherings with people outside work or school. [cite journal|title=Comparison of transitory and chronic loners on selected personality variables|last=Hojat|first=Mohammadreza|journal=British Journal of Psychology|date=May 1983|volume=74|issue=2|pages=199-203]

Some loners are able to act "normally" in a social setting. However, the strain of being in a situation which is uncomfortable will leave them mentally and emotionally exhausted. Therefore, they will have to retreat for a significant amount of time before being able to do so again.

It is also worth noting that loners can potentially be exceptionally sexually attracted to one another but further contact is rarely established since they have great difficulty approaching strangers.

ee also

*Asperger Syndrome
*Avoidant personality disorder
*Byronic hero
*Hermit
*Introversion
*Loneliness
*Hikikomori
*Misanthropy
*Outsider
*Schizoid personality disorder
*Social phobia
*Solitude
*Tragic Hero
*Lone wolf (trait)

References