Taking refuge from modernity: 21st century hermits

Area of Science:

• Psychology and Sociology
• Environmental Health
• History of Medicine

Background:

• Idiopathic environmental intolerances (IEIs), including multiple chemical sensitivity and electrosensitivity, significantly impair quality of life.
• Some severely affected individuals isolate themselves from modern society to avoid perceived environmental triggers.
• Historical accounts of hermits suggest a long-standing human tendency towards societal withdrawal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore similarities between ancient hermits and modern individuals recluding due to IEIs.
• To investigate if IEIs represent a contemporary manifestation of a historical pattern of societal retreat.
• To understand the extreme behaviors associated with severe environmental intolerances.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted on case reports of ancient hermits.
• Case reports of modern individuals experiencing reclusion due to idiopathic environmental intolerance were also reviewed.
• Comparative analysis was performed to identify recurring themes and differences between the two groups.

Main Results:

• Recurring themes identified in both ancient and modern cases include societal dissatisfaction, a compulsion to withdraw, ongoing struggle, and perceived conflict with societal structures.
• Despite differences, significant thematic overlaps were observed between historical hermits and contemporary recluses.
• The study highlights a consistent human desire to retreat from society to escape perceived harm, manifesting in various forms across history.

Conclusions:

• The extreme behaviors seen in individuals with severe IEIs may be illuminated by understanding historical patterns of reclusion.
• The impulse to retreat from society as a response to perceived threats has persisted for centuries.
• IEIs and historical hermitism share underlying psychological and social drivers, suggesting a continuous human response to perceived societal or environmental harms.