Are You Unsocial? That Could Be a Good Thing

Would you rather spend time alone reading, or immerse yourself in a crowd at a party?  

Though my gig is public relations, and I've had to make nice for years at corporate events and affairs (and I'm pretty good at it), I've begun to realize that my most fun activity is simply being by myself to think, or dream, or just, well, cogitate (look it up, millennials!).

Now a new study says social withdrawal is not necessarily a bad thing.  According to newswise.com, though spending too much time alone can be unhealthy and there is growing evidence that the psychosocial effects of too much solitude can last a lifetime, newly published research by a University at Buffalo (UB) psychologist suggests that not all forms of social withdrawal are detrimental. 

In fact, the research findings suggest that one form of social withdrawal, referred to as unsociability, is not only unrelated to negative outcomes, but linked positively to creativity, the web site reports.

“Motivation matters,” says Julie Bowker, an associate professor in UB’s Department of Psychology and lead author of the study, which is the first study of social withdrawal to include a positive outcome. “We have to understand why someone is withdrawing to understand the associated risks and benefits."

Makes sense.

“When people think about the costs associated with social withdrawal, often times they adopt a developmental perspective,” she says. “During childhood and adolescence, the idea is that if you’re removing yourself too much from your peers, then you’re missing out on positive interactions like receiving social support, developing social skills and other benefits of interacting with your peers.

“This may be why there has been such an emphasis on the negative effects of avoiding and withdrawing from peers.”

But, in recent years, Bowker says there is growing recognition for the different reasons why youth withdraw from and avoid peers, and that the risk associated with withdrawal depends on the underlying reason or motivation.

Some people withdraw out of fear or anxiety.  This type of social withdrawal is associated with shyness. Others appear to withdraw because they dislike social interaction.  They are considered socially avoidant.

But some people withdraw due to non-fearful preferences for solitude.  These individuals enjoy spending time alone, reading or working on their computers.  They are unsociable.  Unlike shyness and avoidance, research consistently shows that unsocialibility is unrelated to negative outcomes.  But, Bowker’s study is the first to link it to a positive outcome, creativity.

In fact, people who seek solitude tend to be creative, according to the web site.

“Although unsociable youth spend more time alone than with others, we know that they spend some time with peers.  They are not antisocial. They don’t initiate interaction, but also don’t appear to turn down social invitations from peers.  Therefore, they may get just enough peer interaction so that when they are alone, they are able to enjoy that solitude.  They’re able to think creatively and develop new ideas – like an artist in a studio or the academic in his or her office,” adds Bowker.

In the study, shyness and avoidance were related negatively to creativity.  Bowker thinks that “shy and avoidant individuals may be unable to use their solitude time happily and productively, maybe because they are distracted by their negative cognitions and fears.”