Hikikomori from the Perspective of Overuse, Underuse, and Optimal Use of Character Strengths: Case Reports
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Hikikomori from the Perspective of Overuse, Underuse, and Optimal Use of Character Strengths: Case Reports Shinichiro Matsuguma 1
& Ryan
M. Niemiec 2
Accepted: 10 November 2020/ # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Hikikomori, or social withdrawal youth has become one of the most pressing social issues in Japan and this phenomenon is increasing in other countries as well. While there is a movement to pathologize this phenomenon as a new psychological disorder, these case reports provide a fresh perspective of hikikomori using the lens of character strengths in the scientific field of positive psychology. These case reports illustrate how the hikikomori phenomenon can be understood, at least in part, using the framework of character strengths overuse, underuse, and optimal use by conducting the character strengths intervention for hikikomori youth. The authors offer examples of combinations of overuse and underuse of character strengths, with particular attention to the unique signature strengths, among hikikomori youth. Future directions of research include an empirical investigation of the relationship between the hikikomori phenomenon and the notion of overuse, underuse, and optimal use of character strengths, potentially using research methodology. Keywords Character strengths . Strengths underuse . Strengths overuse . Strengths optimal
use . Character strengths intervention . Hikikomori
1 Hikikomori Phenomenon Hikikomori, or social withdrawal youth has become one of the most acute social issues in Japan (Teo 2010). Hikikomori is characterized as 1) staying at home for most of the day, 2) avoidance of social participation (e.g. working and schooling), and 3) continuation of these conditions for at least 6 months (Saito 2010). In addition, significant functional impairment or distress must be associated with the social
* Shinichiro Matsuguma [email protected]
1
Strength Association, Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan
2
VIA Institute on Character, Cincinnati, OH, USA
International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
isolation (Kato et al. 2019). Signs of hikikomori typically start presenting during adolescence or early adulthood, although onset in older adults has also been reported (Kato et al. 2020). The number of hikikomori aged between 15 and 39 years is estimated at approximately 541,000 in Japan (Cabinet Office 2016), with increasing international reports of this phenomenon (Pozza et al. 2019). The cause of hikikomori is diverse. Although there is no exact and proper categorization for hikikomori in the most updated diagnostic manual, the DSM-5, clinicians and psychiatrists claim that some forms of hikikomori are caused by psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (Kondo et al. 2013), personality disorder (Teo et al. 2015), a severe form of social anxiety disorder (Nagata et al. 2013), or Internet addiction (Wong 2009). Therefore, it should be regarded as an illness and treated through pharmacotherapy (Nagata et al. 2013) or hospitalization (Kato et al. 2012) to address these psychological
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