one does not have to worry about anyone watching them or judging them, is essentially a comfort barrier. This is where the individual can concentrate on his or her thoughts and not be distracted in their state of contemplation. Whatever the reason for the emotion, isolation can be a useful vehicle for a more personal, cathartic emotional release. Sometimes, an emotional release can lead to the desire to contemplate one's own personal identity. This self-examination is "the opportunity to evaluate social experiences and plan future social behaviors with the goal of preserving self-identity" (Pedersen,1988). Everyone, at some time or another, has to ask themselves the questions "Who am I?" and "What am I doing here?" It is this natural human instinct that distinguishes human beings from other animals. Humans are always pondering and curious about life and their purpose on earth. It is at times like these, when questions are so personal and individually oriented, that one seeks isolation to contemplate his or her own existence. When isolated, with no distractions, one can more easily peruse the thoughts and feelings of one's heart. It is in these solitary instances that many religious-oriented people take the opportunity to pray or communicate with their God. Isolation can thus be a very useful tool in finding oneself and discovering one's inner-most beliefs. The reasons that one desires isolation from others or society in general are important. These desires are actually the beginning of a process. First, the desire, then the physical removal, and lastly the regulation of privacy through the use of isolation. The idea of physically removing one's self is based on the fact that there is some place to go where chances of obtaining isolation are high. The places that first come to mind are those that provide a distance barrier, if not a physical barrier, between the stresses and the individual or group. For this reason, areas spanning large ...
