Blackwell Reference Online

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A state that has been defined as the unpleasant experience that occurs when a person's network of social relationships is deficient in some important way, either quantitatively or qualitatively ( Peplau & Perlman, 1982 , p. 4). Loneliness stems from a discrepancy between the level of social contact a person needs or desires and the amount s/he has. It is a subjective experience — people can be alone without being lonely, or lonely in a crowd. Various types of loneliness have been suggested. Some scholars have distinguished between chronic and temporary loneliness. Others have discussed an existential or spiritual form of loneliness. Mikulincer and Segal (1990) recently identified four subtypes of loneliness via cluster analysis: self-concerned, paranoid, depressive, and socially estranged. In an influential older formulation, Weiss (1973) distinguished between emotional and social loneliness. Emotional loneliness stems from the absence of close emotional attachments (such as those provided by a spouse); social loneliness stems from the absence of an adequate social network. The affective sequelae of emotional loneliness (e.g., anxiety and apprehension) are generally more intense and unpleasant than the sequelae of social loneliness (e.g., boredom and feelings of exclusion). Social scientists have focused increasing attention on loneliness during the past 15 years. A multidisciplinary ... log in or subscribe to read full text