Social Distance vs. Social Isolation

As a medical doctor, I am acutely aware there are risks and benefits to everything. It may seem obvious to socially isolate right now. However, human beings are social creatures, and social isolation is considered cruelty in most circumstances. Studies on both monkeys and humans have shown this can have a devastating impact on our psychology. 

The famous study on Harry Harlow's monkeys found that monkeys left without contact with other monkeys quickly got sick and died. Everyone understands how devastating social isolation can be. Remember the movie Castaway? Tom Hanks started to talk to his volleyball, naming it Wilson, after months of being left alone. And he was willing to risk his life to rescue it.  

So now, many of my friends don't want to see me. And I am thinking, "Well, what are the actual pros—and cons—of social isolation?"