Mental Health and Social Withdrawal in Contemporary Japan: Beyond the Hikikomori Spectrum

This book explores the phenomenon of social withdrawal in Japan, known as hikikomori, which ranges from school non-attendance to extreme isolation and confinement. It argues that hikikomori is not a mental disorder but an idiom of distress, a passive and effective way of resisting the pressures of Japanese schooling and society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate phenomenon of social withdrawal in Japan, encompassing a wide spectrum of behaviors, from school non-attendance to extreme cases of isolation and confinement, commonly referred to as hikikomori. Through extensive original research, including in-depth interviews with a diverse range of practitioners actively engaged in addressing this issue, the book offers a comprehensive exploration of hikikomori's manifestations, treatment approaches, and historical perceptions in Japan. Authored by a clinical psychologist with extensive practical experience, the author argues that hikikomori, while socially unacceptable, should not be viewed as a mental disorder but rather as an idiom of distress, a passive and effective means of coping with the numerous pressures of Japanese schooling and society as a whole.

The Open Access version of this book, accessible at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781351260800, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CCBY-NC-ND) license. This licensing agreement allows for non-commercial use, reproduction, and distribution of the book, provided that proper attribution is given to the author.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367645724