University of Reading, UK.
Durham University, UK.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2023 Dec;49(12):1663-1678. doi: 10.1177/01461672221115941. Epub 2022 Sep 3.
What does it mean to be in solitude? Researchers building this nascent field are learning much about the potential affordances of solitude, but lack an agreed-upon definition or set of definitions. Arriving at that meaning is crucial to forming a solid foundation for studies that use both naturalistic and laboratory designs to explore outcomes of solitude. This study identified themes from semi-structured interviews with adults aged 19 to 80 from diverse backgrounds. We concluded that solitude is a state in which the dominant relationship is with the self. If not physically alone, people in solitude are mentally distanced from others and away from active technology-mediated interactions. Complete solitude involves both physical separation and inner focus, but solitude is best defined through a taxonomy that recognizes physical separation and internal focus as independent, sufficient characteristics. An internal focus benefits from (but is not defined by) balancing solitude with social time, quiet, and choice.
独处意味着什么？正在构建这一新兴领域的研究人员正在深入了解独处的潜在益处，但缺乏一个公认的定义或定义集。达成这一意义对于为使用自然和实验室设计来探索独处结果的研究奠定坚实基础至关重要。本研究从来自不同背景的 19 岁至 80 岁成年人的半结构化访谈中确定了主题。我们得出结论，独处是一种与自我建立主导关系的状态。如果不是身体上独处，那么独处的人在心理上与他人保持距离，远离积极的技术媒介互动。完全的独处既包括身体上的分离，也包括内心的专注，但独处最好通过一种分类法来定义，这种分类法将身体上的分离和内心的专注视为独立的、充分的特征。内心的专注得益于（但不是由）将独处与社交时间、安静和选择相平衡。
