A prospective view of Hikikomori: a widespread social withdrawal condition

“Hikikomori” is a form of severe social withdrawal first described in Japan. People with Hikikomori seclude themselves from society, spending months and years at home. They refuse to go to school or work. Most people with Hikikomori rely on financial support from others, such as their parents. Hikikomori was at first thought to be a culture-bound syndrome specific to Japanese culture. Interestingly, many more cases are recently found in many parts of the world. However, due to its complex variations in symptoms and factors, the definition and assessment of Hikikomori have not yet reached an agreement among scholars and clinicians. This final dissertation aims to overview Hikikomori: its terminology, assessment, and treatment proposed in academic articles. Furthermore, it analyzes Hikikomori from a more prospective view, considering some social influences and values that may influence a form of Hikikomori.