17
Isolation--The Ultimate Poison
Remove the sponge cell from the sponge, prevent it from finding
its way back to its brethren, and it dies. Scrape a liver cell from the
liver and in its isolation it too will shrivel and give up life. But what
happens if you remove a human from his social bonds, wrenching him
from the superorganism of which he or she is a part?
In the 1940's, the psychologist Rene Spitz studied human babies
isolated from their mothers. These were the infants of women too poor
to care for their children, infants who had been placed permanently in
a foundling home. There, the children were kept in what Spitz called
"solitary confinement," placed in cribs with sheets hung from the sides
so that the only thing the babies could see was the ceiling. Nurses
seldom looked in on them more than a few times a day. And even
when feeding time came, the babies were left alone with just the
companionship of a bottle. Hygiene in the homes was impeccable. But
without being held, loved, and woven into the fabric of a social web,
the resistance of these babies was lowered. Thirty four out of 91 died.
In other foundling homes, the death rate was even higher. In some, it
climbed to a devastating 90%.40 A host of other studies have shown the
same thing. Babies can be given food, shelter, warmth and hygiene.
But if they are not held and stroked, they have an abnormal tendency
to die.
Two means have been discovered to produce depression in
laboratory animals: uncontrollable punishment and isolation. Put an
animal in a cage by himself, separated from his nestmates, and he will
lose interest in food and sex, have trouble sleeping, and undergo a
muddling of the brain.41
Tampering with bonds to the larger social organism can have
powerful consequences.42 In humans, feeling you're unwanted can
stunt your growth. The flow of growth hormones, according to recent
research, is affected strongly by "psychosocial factors." Monkeys taken
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17
Isolation--The Ultimate Poison
Remove the sponge cell from the sponge, prevent it from finding
its way back to its brethren, and it dies. Scrape a liver cell from the
liver and in its isolation it too will shrivel and give up life. But what
happens if you remove a human from his social bonds, wrenching him
from the superorganism of which he or she is a part?
In the 1940's, the psychologist Rene Spitz studied human babies
isolated from their mothers. These were the infants of women too poor
to care for their children, infants who had been placed permanently in
a foundling home. There, the children were kept in what Spitz called
"solitary confinement," placed in cribs with sheets hung from the sides
so that the only thing the babies could see was the ceiling. Nurses
seldom looked in on them more than a few times a day. And even
when feeding time came, the babies were left alone with just the
companionship of a bottle. Hygiene in the homes was impeccable. But
without being held, loved, and woven into the fabric of a social web,
the resistance of these babies was lowered. Thirty four out of 91 died.
In other foundling homes, the death rate was even higher. In some, it
climbed to a devastating 90%.40 A host of other studies have shown the
same thing. Babies can be given food, shelter, warmth and hygiene.
But if they are not held and stroked, they have an abnormal tendency
to die.
Two means have been discovered to produce depression in
laboratory animals: uncontrollable punishment and isolation. Put an
animal in a cage by himself, separated from his nestmates, and he will
lose interest in food and sex, have trouble sleeping, and undergo a
muddling of the brain.41
Tampering with bonds to the larger social organism can have
powerful consequences.42 In humans, feeling you're unwanted can
stunt your growth. The flow of growth hormones, according to recent
research, is affected strongly by "psychosocial factors." Monkeys taken
<< < GO > >>