The Handbook of Solitude: Psychological Perspectives on Social Isolation, Social Withdrawal, and Being Alone

by Robert J. Coplan (Editor), Julie C. Bowker (Editor)

This reference work offers a comprehensive compilation of current psychological research related to the construct of solitude Explores numerous psychological perspectives on solitude, including those from developmental, neuropsychological, social, personality, and clinical psychology Examines different developmental periods across the lifespan, and across a broad range of contexts, including natural environments, college campuses, relationships, meditation, and cyberspace Includes contributions from the leading international experts in the field Covers concepts and theoretical approaches, empirical research, as well as clinical applications

Genres: Psychology

609 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Robert J. Coplan, PhD, is a psychologist, researcher, teacher, and author who has been studying solitude for more than thirty years. He is a chancellor’s professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University. Over the course of his career, he has extensively explored the costs and benefits of spending time alone among children, adolescents, and adults. In his spare time, Robert plays piano and sings with a local band, drinks too much coffee, takes
daily long walks along the water, and tries to find the right balance between enjoying the company of cherished others and basking in
the calm of solitude.

Reviews

[Reix · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a psychologist is impossible to not find interesting this compilation of psychological studies about solitude. Every chapter treats different studies about solitude in relation to different things: to religion, to mental disorders like depression, anxiety, etc., to unhappiness and to happiness (yes, being alone doesn't necessarily mean to be unhappy, that is related to the "feeling" of loneliness), how solitude is also related to the attachment behaviour in relation to our parents, the differences in extroverts and introverts, the dark side of solitude, but also its bright side, solitude in relation to the different ages, etc.
My conclusion after reading this book is that solitude may be good if is a choice or a need, but not if the person has a feeling of loneliness or if the person feels forced to be alone, because the consequences of loneliness are one of the most powerful reasons of depression, social anxiety, stress and many other disorders, as well as suicide. Studies seem to conclude that lonely people tend to feel less happy, but the differences found are not so significative to think that being alone is bad,because it also has a lot of advantages. As everything else in this world, it depends on the situation of the concrete individual and in the feelings who that person experiences when is in solitude.

[Qasim Zafar · Rating 5 out of 5]

From time to time one happens to come across a book which, though picked up for purposes of general knowledge, ends up also opening a window for the reader into themselves in such a powerful way that it offers deep, penetrating insights, and alters the ones understanding for the better. I finished reading this book about a week a go and am still contextualizing the material, and when done, will begin reading it again.

The editors have included works which cover every aspect of what we in society consider along the terms of solitude - from what is considered to be solitude, to what is loneliness; and when it's positive and when negative. Also, and perhaps the greatest feature of this book is that everything is contextualized within the stages of human development. Also, the contributors do a great job of defining their terms where they feel they are necessary and more than that, they consistently stick to them. And finally, at the end of nearly every section the contributors discuss where the research on the subject matter is complete, and where research still needs to be done to provide meaning to the existing body of knowledge.

I highly recommend this book!