The Psychological Benefits of Reducing Social Isolation

by Dr. Elior Kinarthy
 
Social activities can help prevent loneliness and depression and are enhanced by behaving with a positive attitude and being highly self-monitoring of your speech and behaviours. What does it mean to be highly self-monitoring? It means that the person self-regulates their behaviour to fit the social environment. How does that lead to better socialization and social experiences? The high self-regulator is liked and therefore more successful in a polite society like Canada.
 
Profound social isolation for long periods of time is a symptom of sociopathy. Sociopathic tendencies are often demonstrated by criminal behaviour with no remorse when hurting people. Reasonable social participation increases mental health and reduces sociopathic tendencies and other personality disorders. Personality disorders are characterized by having traits that interferes with employment and good relationships.
 
As a person living in this society, you can benefit yourself a lot by understanding and knowing about the technique of sublimation. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, developed the concept of sublimation. It is the ability to divert anger, fear, and other “primitive” emotions into positive activities. For instance, sublimation can assist someone who is neurotic and angry at society. They can benefit by sublimating their anger into participating in sports and other physical activities.
 
Freud believed that the process of converting the energy of anxiety by sublimation is a key health issue for modern society. Why is that? Sublimation to reduce mild to moderate anxiety and turning it into learning social skills, sports or other activities can prevent the development of neurosis, which can then become clinical anxiety. People with clinical anxiety often manifest psychosomatic illnesses. So, it appears that socializing is very important psychologically and benefits both physical and mental health.       
          
As an active participant in the Saanich Green Market, I highly recommend that people stop by every two weeks- not only for the fresh produce at wholesale prices but also for the hot soup, coffee, live music, and great social experiences.