2 Comments

This makes me remember the horrific impact of social isolation/lack of human contact that was reported in the early 90s. Infants in Romanian orphanages were the victims, and many studies were conducted since then. A great number of these orphans were adopted, and have major emotional/psychological issues to this day.

Expand full comment

Yes, exactly! Lack of interaction is bad for us at any age and this reminds me of Harry Harlow's studies with rhesus monkeys in the 1950s and 1960s, where he found that monkeys deprived of any interaction as babies developed lifelong social deficits. Kristen Radtke discusses this in in her amazing graphic nonfiction book, Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness. Thanks for reading and commenting, Heidi!

Expand full comment