The Biological Origin of Hikikomori Syndrome

  They’re called the hermits of Japan. In 80 percent of cases, they’re men and they avoid all kinds of social contact, leisure, friendship, and even work or study. They live locked in their rooms, isolated, playing video games or spending time on the Internet. Now, science seems to have found the biological origin of hikikomori syndrome. This phenomenon first became evident at the end of the last century, around 1998. As expressed in some of the media, hikikomori symbolized resistance to world pressure. It’s a protest against work and academic stress and the kind of family severity that means…