How many times does one hear others say, "I just need to get away from it all?" This phrase is one of great importance to most human beings. What is it saying? It is conveying a desire for privacy, isolation, and possibly quiet solitude. Anne LaBastille (1992) explains that, "Solitude and silence are positive, precious life forces which every human needs and has the birthright to enjoy" (p. 6). Where does this personal desire for isolation come from? It could range from any one of the common pressures of everyday life, stress from work, daily responsibilities, social pressures, weather; basically any kind of stressor that one experiences. Why would getting away or physically removing one's self be an answer to a problem? Where does one go, exactly, to 'get away?' How can this 'getting away' and regulating one's privacy be important in the continued well being of an individual? The answers to these questions may be found through exploring why one chooses isolation as a problem solving tool. There are certain times when one feels the need to isolate oneself from others, whether it be physically or mentally, and just reflect or do something relaxing. First of all, why does one desire isolation or solitude when daily life gets a little too busy and overwhelming? For one thing, privacy is used to regulate the access of others to oneself or group (Altman, 1975). When one experiences a sensory or information overload, whether great or small, the most logical thing to do is to cut off or regulate that sensory stimulation received. What better way to do this than to isolate oneself from the stimulations? This situation describes a key element in the desire for isolation; control. The desire for isolation comes from the perceived loss of control of one's life or any part thereof. It is, therefore, easy to understand how strong this desire for isolation can be when one perceives that the control over his or her life is in jeopardy. William Hammi...
