Hikikomori - japanese autism?

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Just curious if this concept has been vetted by the wrongplanet community yet.

This could be a purely sociological expression of Japan's f'ed-up socioeconomic situation; I suspect this is simply an expression of ASD individuals running from the hyper-urban culture when the dollars ran out that kept them working like nice little Japanese boys.


Simply put, the economic crash of the 90's caused a presentation of autistic symptoms as the social support institutions shut down as the tax money ran out.

Less classrooms=more darkrooms.

Btw, I'm not Japanese but I'm "Hikikomori."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikikomori

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/vi ... 8ee2d74ed2



So is Matthew McConaughey. But he get's the ladies.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/

Asians= more math expression, less dysfunction.

Westerners= less math expression, more dysfunction.



Could a less formalized-life create the Hikikomori?

I think that this is describing a withdraw from society that is triggered by some unpleasant event - rejection from a prestigious school, loss of job, etc.

A relative of mine lost her first child after a long, painful genetic illness similar to PKU. Afterwards, she divorced her husband, moved back in with her mother, and has rarely left the house over the past ten years. I would describe it as depression and social anxiety and other conditions that were triggered by the child's long, painful death. It is not AS.

Japan is a social pressure cooker in many ways, and they had a severe recession that lasted for over a decade. Many people experienced psychological trauma when the economy contracted, and I would put Hikikomori as a reactive behavioral syndrome. Maybe the people that do react that way are different somehow from the general public, but they seemed fairly NT prior to whatever crisis triggered their reclusiveness.

I it talking about many things such as social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.

They can be part of ASD but not necessarily.

My gran was Hikikomori and was not ASD, it started in her 60s. I have been like that and am ASD.

But with me I could not go out for say 3 weeks and then just go out because my social anxiety is not as bad.

I dont think the fact that some people just like to be antisocial or very introverted quite compares to just having a lack of understanding when the time is necessary, or the lack to focus on something you know is for your good. autism, autism, autism, what an anomaly.

All three of you have lame opinions. None of you acknowledged the math-centric support system which convinces me none of you understand what you are chatty-chatty about. Bet you voted for Kerry.


I'm still looking for smart people to share their opinions.

No your "gran" wasn't Hikikomori. You're bullshitting. That's a scientific term please don't taser me.

I think that hikikomori is a behavior that is natural in some but also has a cultural meaning. For instance, in America, many young women suffer from anorexia. Anorexia is a biologically/neurologically programmed response to stress in some, but others develop this negative behavior because they need an outlet for their stress and they know that the female body and weight are emotionally charged ideas in their culture. With hikikomori, some young men are probably biologically/neurologically programmed to suffer from agoraphobia, but others are just stressed and decide to cope by eschewing the culturally-charged ideas of school and work success and staying at home. Because of the differences in culture, "hikikomori" in America and "anorexia" in Japan are probably completely different disorders, and probably require completely different psychological and medical treatments.

Edited to add: This is a response to the original poster, and not a judgment on who is or isn't 'hikikomori'.

Last edited by Cooper on 18 Sep 2007, 1:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

yo syn, oooo, nm, ill be the bigger man and just say i hope you get the answer your looking for, but by the looks of it, youlle never find it

You're making s**t up.



Kids. 80% boys. Avoid social contact. After Japan's economic collapse. After the money stopped flowwing in for social systems. Wow, lots of dumb people here.

Yeah. You're clever aint cha? Can't answer a simple question? I hope you don't answer questions around here. Considering you're so political about it.

Actually is it not a scientific term that is widely recognised or well defined and with due respect you know f**k all about her. She was isolated for over 15 years wouldn’t leave the house had a house keeper do everything. She only just passed away.

You’re arguing about a word rather then finding out what you've got. Good luck with that.

WOW. On second thought you are just EVIL.


Where do you get off talking to people like that? I've never heard ASD people talk like that.

This is an interesting topic for discussion. It's also within your power to make said discussion rewarding for all involved, rather than flaming people and making things unpleasant. Nobody has any incentive to talk with you when you're rude.

You're attempting to mislead people about a word! You're an idiot! f**k off pig!! ! Your granmother wasn't anything related to japanese ASD experiencers in the 21st century. f**k YOU!