LONLINESS

SNELL  LIFE CYCLE  LONELINESS CURVE

Joel C. Snell MA, MIBA Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mitchell Marsh Pharm. D. St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

INTRODUCTION

Tonnies and Durkeheim (Macionis, 2005) suggested that loneliness and or social isolation are correlated with industrial societies. Current research would also support these observations. In both industrial and post industrial societies, the extended family and kin have a diminished impact on the individual. Unlike the intact extended family of agricultural societies, the nuclear family emerges as fragile in comparison

(Rokach & Neto, 2006).

DISCUSSION

Recent studies have suggested that Putnam’s (2006)”Bowling Alone” is salient. In some respects, the scenario is that the global society produces large populations that appear to be both socially and geographically mobile. Talking about “subjects that matter” means that you to come to trust another to be able to tell one’s secrets (sociologists call this primary group.)  This is an awesome task when one is in constant motion of job, city, and the intensity of relationships. Families are supportive, but are no longer large enough to handle numerous everyday emotional tasks. As a result, one spends most of the day with friendly strangers. (Lexington, 2006)

In a recent finding, when a random sample of Americans were asked who could you relate to in “subjects that matter,” the number was 3 in 1985 and 2 in 2006 (Putnam, 2006)  There are speculations about why this is the case. Incidentally, nearly 25% of the population has no one to talk to about their most personal thoughts and feelings.

The authors suggest as an overgeneralization that age is one of the most important social variables in terms of loneliness. We understand that others disagree in terms of the power of “explained variance” in multiple regression models.   However, one can not dismiss other social variables such as sexual status, income, race, ethnicity, city size. Nor can personal dynamics such as extraversion and related be diminished. Please see one of the premier researchers in this field Ami Rokack (2000.) Last, biochemical imbalances and mental health is also important particularly in terms of diminishing immune and cardiovascular functions from loneliness. (Goleman, 2006.)

However, age appears to be extremely robust. We suggest an inverted capital “N” linear curve. This is hypothetical, but a way to continue the research on populations in terms of social contact, meaningful relations and loneliness relative to age. In the sociological literature, two or more individuals that are forthcoming with each constitute a primary group of mutual support and emotional aid and diminish loneliness ( Macionis, 2005, ______,2004)

The stages below are summarized with this caveat. Individual differences matter. Some will be social isolates all their life and others will always have trusted friends throughout the life or age cycle of their existence.

PHASE 1. Early Childhood. (The peak of less loneliness in rich industrial and global information countries)

At this stage the curve goes from mother-infant to numerous friends in a large quantitative leap. Children are open and naive at first to tell others what they need and want. Most will have friends. Differentiating about the quality of the relationship comes later. Secrets are expressed to enough so that one is less likely to be lonely.

PHASE 2. Adolescence (The nadir of less loneliness in rich industrial and global information countries.)

At this phase, closer scrutiny is placed on personal and sexual marketing of one’s self. Numerous superficial attributes emerge that deal with fleeting relationships and conscious conformity. One becomes aware of harsh judgments that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Others will prosper until the end of high school where the special clique will scatter to the winds. A smaller group will continue to adapt throughout their entire life.

Further at this stage, social contacts and secrets are complicated not only by physical appearance and social skills, but by psycho-biochemical changes and sexual orientation.

Because of the dramatic social, psychological, and biochemical changes, social trust is diminished and a sharp downward thrust of social contacts and increase in loneliness occurs. Thus, the linear line has dramatically increased and dramatically decreased in a matter of 12 years or so.

PHASE 3. Early and middle adulthood. (The peak of less loneliness in rich industrial and global information countries.)  

Again as a generalization, relationships become stable and one begins to find social adaptations to overcome early negative judgments. One begins to understand one’s self and others. In a global post modern society, geographic moves can give one a chance to start over if one’s earlier life has been tumultuous. Thus, the curve begins to move upward again. For others who enjoyed adolescence, the curve still remains stable but lower so that it is possible that the loved and unloved from high school can find inner peace.

PHASE 4. Elderly (The nadir of less loneliness in rich industrial and global information countries.)

At this stage or phase, one begins to move downward. Mate and friends die. New social contacts are harder to maintain and emotional and physical health can go downward. Early elderly (up to about 72) are more enjoyable than after 72 when age becomes an illness unto itself. (Macionis, 2005, Mirowsky & Ross, 1992.)

THE SNELL LIFECYCLE LONELINESS CURVE uses an upper right quartile of a Cartesian plane begins at the top of less loneliness and decreases to the bottom of loneliness. From infancy to until teens, less loneliness descends into loneliness.  Then it is followed by a general increase of less loneliness in the early adult and middle adulthood, after that it gradually heads downward into loneliness until death. The curve appears to be an inverted capital “N.”

CONCLUSION

Childhood appears to be the most dramatic increase in one’s life of less loneliness. As a vast generalization and in more common terminology, one in some form of industrialized society, begins less lonely. In the teen years, loneliness emerges, but by middle life loneliness is less common, and in older years, loneliness emerges again. The Snell

Loneliness Curve attempts to capture this life cycle of less lonely and more lonely experiences and put them in a quantifiable form.

References:

Goleman, D. (2006) Social Intelligence: The Science of Human Relationships  New York: Bantam Books.

Lexington, A. (2006) Pursuing happiness, The Economist, 7, 1, 32.

Macionis, J. (2005) Sociology Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Mirowsky,  J. & C. Ross (1992) Age and depression, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 33, 9, 187-205.

Putnam, R. (2006) You gotta have friends Time, July 3, 36

Rokach, A. (2000) Loneliness and the life cycle, Psychological Reports April, 86(2) 629-42

Rokack, A & Neto. F. (2006)  Age, culture, and coping with loneliness Psychology & Education: An  Interdisciplinary Journal, 43,2, 1-21.

________ (2004) Loneliness (Age Differences) The Social Report (www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/2004/social-connectedness/loneliness.html)