Hikikomori-Japan's Modern-Day Hermit

Guest: Alan Teo, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University In Japan, there are hundreds of thousands of people experiencing an extreme form of social withdrawal called “Hikikomori” where they will hole up at home and not leave for months. They’ll have limited contact with anyone but family in the home. This behavior isn’t unique to Japan, but it’s particularly well-studied there and researchers think there are some cultural reasons why may be more prevalent in Japan. Understanding Hikikomori could help us better understand the way depression and anxiety look in different cultures.