Recluse

A recluse is someone in isolation who hides away from attention of the public, a person who lives in seclusion from intercourse with the world; from the Latin recludere, to shut up or sequester. A person may become a recluse for many reasons: a celebrity may seek to escape the attentions of their fans; a misanthrope may be unable to tolerate human society; a survivalist may be practicing self-sufficiency. Also, it can be due to psychological problems - such as apathy, a phobia, or other anxiety disorders. A person may also become a recluse for religious reasons, in which case they are usually referred to as an anchorite or hermit.

Related Topics:
Isolation - Latin - Celebrity - Fans - Misanthrope - Human - Survivalist - Self-sufficiency - Apathy - Phobia - Anxiety disorders - Hermit

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Famous examples of people often described as recluses:

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• Syd Barrett
• Howard Hughes (movie producer and aircraft entrepreneur) who suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder
• Stanley Kubrick
• Greta Garbo (actress)
• Thomas Pynchon (author)
• JD Salinger (author)
• Emily Dickinson (poet)
• Christopher Lloyd (actor)
• Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber
• The Collyer brothers

Reclusiveness does not necessarily connote geographical isolation. A recluse may live in a crowded city, but infrequently leave the security of his or her home. However, isolated and sparsely populated states (e.g., Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska) and countries (e.g., New Zealand or Australia) often harbor recluses, who are often seeking complete escape from civilization.

Related Topics:
Montana - Wyoming - Alaska - New Zealand - Australia - Civilization

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In Japan, an estimated 1.2 million people suffer from pyschological problems which cause reclusive behavior. The phenomenon of "Hikikomori" or "social withdrawal" has become a major problem, often blamed on the education system and social pressure to succeed.

Related Topics:
Japan - Hikikomori - Education system

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Recluse: See Also ►