Have you ever heard of the Hedgehog’s Dilemma?
On cold winter days, hedgehogs huddle together for warmth. However, the sharp quills protecting their soft bodies make it difficult, if not impossible, for the creatures to be near each other without causing considerable harm. They disperse, only for the cold to drive them together again.
This is the Hedgehog’s Dilemma, a metaphor for the challenges of forming intimate relationships with others. This dilemma mirrors the isolation many Americans feel today. Despite having access to technology that can connect us, we’re more isolated than ever.
Why are Americans so lonely? Today, we look for the answer.
Loneliness is a feeling of discomfort or distress resulting from a perceived gap between a person’s desire for social connection and their reality. The feeling is subjective, and someone can feel deep, pervasive loneliness whether they’re isolated or have numerous casual connections. Yet objective measures reveal a country truly divided and disconnected.
Here’s a closer look at how social connection has changed across America:
A recent survey revealed that 17% of U.S. adults (44 million Americans) experience significant loneliness, with young adults and members of lower-income households more likely to feel lonely. And in 2021, nearly half of Americans (49%) reported having three or fewer close friends.
Looking at national trends for social connection derived from data collected from 2003-2020 reveals that, on average:
Regarding the millions of Americans struggling with social connection, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said, “We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing.”
Loneliness isn’t unique to America. Around the globe, you’ll find members of collectivist cultures who are no less lonely and isolated. Still, Americans are becoming less engaged with community organizations, such as faith-based groups and clubs. We’re also getting married later and having fewer children. These are, of course, valid lifestyle choices, but it’s important to note why people are forming fewer connections.
Loneliness, believe it or not, poses a serious threat to physical and mental health. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community warns that loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Specifically, loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 26% and increase the risk of anxiety, depression, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
In the report, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wrote:
“If we fail to [build more connected lives], we will pay an ever-increasing price in the form of our individual and collective health and well-being. And we will continue to splinter and divide until we can no longer stand as a community or a country. Instead of coming together to take on the great challenges before us, we will further retreat to our corners—angry, sick, and alone.”
The past twenty years have been rough, to say the least. From the Great Recession to COVID-19, America has experienced one once-in-a-generation event after another, like a line of crashing waves. Many of us have held off on important life events, such as marriage or starting a family, while others have had to adjust to a new normal.
Americans are lonelier than ever, but don’t count us out just yet. Mental health and well-being have never been discussed as freely or emphasized as strongly as they are today. The Surgeon General’s report is indicative of shifting public sentiment, and now that we know there’s a problem, we can set about fixing it.
With all this talk of loneliness, we’d like to leave you on a more hopeful note. Consider again the Hedgehog’s Dilemma: a metaphor on the difficulties our tangled lives bring.
A key piece of information the metaphor doesn’t consider is that hedgehogs are solitary animals. Humans aren’t. We need and are perfectly capable of forming connections with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.
Sometimes life gets in the way, and it seems like the people we want to be closest to couldn’t be farther away. If there’s a bright side to any of this, it’s that there’s a world of people out there who are reaching out, desperate for a connection, if only someone else would reach back.
Sociology is the study of the causes and consequences of human behavior. Loneliness is only one piece of the puzzle. If you’re interested in the bigger picture, consider formally studying sociology.
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. At UT Permian Basin, you’ll gain a comprehensive education while learning what makes people tick and exploring social institutions, diverse cultures, and the factors that influence human behavior.
Upon graduating, you’ll be prepared to continue your education and ultimately pursue a career in sociology. A BA in sociology can qualify you for a wide variety of careers, including:
Our BA in sociology program is entirely online, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be alone. You’ll be joined by students from around the country, all of whom you can connect with in our online discussion boards. Your advisor and professors will also be there every step of the way to assist you.
Apply to UT Permian Basin’s online BA in sociology program to forever be a part of a large, respected community of students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-and-philosophy/202003/the-hedgehog-s-dilemma
https://apnews.com/article/loneliness-lonely-alone-surgeon-general-c44798ddbe95d9e3da1367cefd25ec93
https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-loneliness-334450f7bb5a77e88d8085b178340e19
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general
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