Human Isolation

[DarkProdigy]

If a group of humans were isolated from each other, other humans, animals, and society as much as possible, how would they think and act? What would happen if they were introduced to society, either suddenly or gradually? Also, what effect would the amount of time an individual was isolated have on these various factors?

[T0rajir0u]

I'm not sure what you're asking here. Is this a group being isolated? (They would form their own society as long as there was some mechanism by which they could get food and shelter.) Or an individual? (Who would go insane. Humans are a very social animal in general.)

[Killrodx]

I'm thinking more along the lines of Placing one person in a room, seperated from each other within that group. This in turn leads to more questions. Would the person have something to be kept occupied like reading books, puzzle games and so on. They would need food, water, a bathroom, bed, electricity and so on for living conditions.
Now, you would have to cut them off via newspaper, internet, cable/satellite television, radio, and telephone.
I imagine some would die of boredom and slowly become crazy without human interaction as stated above.
I'm just going to end this here for now until a reply is made on what's being asked.

[Laharl]

I've often wondered what would happen if we took a bunch of babies and left them in a controlled, monitored environment where we could ensure their survival without any contact with established society. I realize that's impossible, but really, I wonder what the natural state of mankind really is because we've been removed from it for such a long time.

[DarkProdigy]

I agree that a human taken out of society would likely either become insane or die of boredom. To clarify, this is what I was aiming to describe:

Originally Posted by Laharl

I've often wondered what would happen if we took a bunch of babies and left them in a controlled, monitored environment where we could ensure their survival without any contact with established society.

[Kashazu]

Here is a query: If a person was born in isolation, how long would it take for him/her to descend into insanity/commit suicide/etc.?

[studmuffin51306]

I have no evidence of this whatsoever.

My preacher told a story about a mesieval government who was searching for the "original language" before the Tower of Babel and all that stuff. So he, being a dictator, took several newborns and put them with several other newborns so that they could grow together and supposedly recreate the original language. They were given food by adults but no communication was made whatsoever. The babies all eventually died.

That's how I remember it, I probably mixed some of it up. Who knows.

[Patashu]

Originally Posted by Laharl

I've often wondered what would happen if we took a bunch of babies and left them in a controlled, monitored environment where we could ensure their survival without any contact with established society. I realize that's impossible, but really, I wonder what the natural state of mankind really is because we've been removed from it for such a long time.

Does mankind even have a natural state? All living things evolve as their surroundings are changed.