The hedgehog's dilemma, or sometimes the porcupine dilemma, is a metaphor about the challenges of human intimacy. It describes a situation in which a group of hedgehogs seek to move close to one another to share heat during cold weather. They must remain apart, however, as they cannot avoid hurting one another with their sharp spines. Though they all share the intention of a close reciprocal relationship, this may not occur, for reasons they cannot avoid.
Arthur Schopenhauer conceived this metaphor for the state of the individual in society. Despite goodwill, humans cannot be intimate without the risk of mutual harm, leading to cautious and tentative relationships. It is wise to be guarded with others for fear of getting hurt and also fear of causing hurt. The dilemma may encourage self-imposed isolation.[1]
Schopenhauer published the first description of the porcupines' dilemma in 1851.[2]
The concept originates in the following parable from the German philosopher Schopenhauer:[2][3]
One cold winter's day, a number of porcupines huddled together quite closely in order through their mutual warmth to prevent themselves from being frozen. But they soon felt the effect of their quills on one another, which made them again move apart. Now when the need for warmth once more brought them together, the drawback of the quills was repeated so that they were tossed between two evils, until they had discovered the proper distance from which they could best tolerate one another. Thus the need for society which springs from the emptiness and monotony of men's lives, drives them together; but their many unpleasant and repulsive qualities and insufferable drawbacks once more drive them apart. The mean distance which they finally discover, and which enables them to endure being together, is politeness and good manners. Whoever does not keep to this, is told in England to ‘keep his distance’. By virtue thereof, it is true that the need for mutual warmth will be only imperfectly satisfied, but on the other hand, the prick of the quills will not be felt. Yet whoever has a great deal of internal warmth of his own will prefer to keep away from society in order to avoid giving or receiving trouble or annoyance. — Schopenhauer (1851) Parerga and Paralipomena[2]
Freudedit
The porcupine on Freud’s desk in the study of his London home, now the Freud Museum.
It entered the realm of psychology after the tale was discovered and adopted by Sigmund Freud. Schopenhauer's tale was quoted by Freud in a footnote to his 1921 work Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (German: Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse). Freud stated, of his trip to the United States in 1909: "I am going to the USA to catch sight of a wild porcupine and to give some lectures."[3]
Social psychological researchedit
The dilemma has received empirical attention within the contemporary psychological sciences. Jon Maner and his colleagues (Nathan DeWall, Roy Baumeister, and Mark Schaller) referred to Schopenhauer's "porcupine problem" when interpreting results from experiments examining how people respond to ostracism.[4] The study showed that participants who experienced social exclusion were more likely to seek out new social bonds with others.
The award-winning short film Henry is a modernist version of the hedgehog's dilemma: in this story, the hedgehog eventually finds social comfort through a turtle, that is, a fellow social creature who is invulnerable to the hedgehog's spines. In the context of the original dilemma, this can be taken to represent the need for variability in human social preferences.
The Japanese vocaloid song Harinezumi by Tota Kasamura is about the hedgehog's dilemma.
^Veit, Walter (28 March 2020). "The Hedgehog's Dilemma". Psychology Today. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
^ abcSchopenhauer, A. (1851). Parerga and Paralipomena: Short philosophical essays. Oxford University Press. volume II, chapter XXXI, section 396, pages 651–652. ISBN978-0521871853.
^ abProchnik, George (2007). "The porcupine illusion". Cabinet Magazine. No. 26. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^"Maner, J.K., DeWall, C.N., Baumeister, R.F., & Schaller, M. (2007). Does social exclusion motivate interpersonal reconnection? Resolving the 'porcupine problem.' Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 42–55" (PDF). Retrieved 8 February 2015.
^Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). Vol. 2. Sony Magazines. p. 23.
April 14, 2024
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For the anime episode see Hedgehog s Dilemma Neon Genesis Evangelion Not to be confused with the Hedgehog Concept from Good to Great The hedgehog s dilemma or sometimes the porcupine dilemma is a metaphor about the challenges of human intimacy It describes a situation in which a group of hedgehogs seek to move close to one another to share heat during cold weather They must remain apart however as they cannot avoid hurting one another with their sharp spines Though they all share the intention of a close reciprocal relationship this may not occur for reasons they cannot avoid A European hedgehogArthur Schopenhauer conceived this metaphor for the state of the individual in society Despite goodwill humans cannot be intimate without the risk of mutual harm leading to cautious and tentative relationships It is wise to be guarded with others for fear of getting hurt and also fear of causing hurt The dilemma may encourage self imposed isolation 1 Contents 1 Schopenhauer 2 Freud 3 Social psychological research 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 ReferencesSchopenhauer edit nbsp Schopenhauer published the first description of the porcupines dilemma in 1851 2 The concept originates in the following parable from the German philosopher Schopenhauer 2 3 One cold winter s day a number of porcupines huddled together quite closely in order through their mutual warmth to prevent themselves from being frozen But they soon felt the effect of their quills on one another which made them again move apart Now when the need for warmth once more brought them together the drawback of the quills was repeated so that they were tossed between two evils until they had discovered the proper distance from which they could best tolerate one another Thus the need for society which springs from the emptiness and monotony of men s lives drives them together but their many unpleasant and repulsive qualities and insufferable drawbacks once more drive them apart The mean distance which they finally discover and which enables them to endure being together is politeness and good manners Whoever does not keep to this is told in England to keep his distance By virtue thereof it is true that the need for mutual warmth will be only imperfectly satisfied but on the other hand the prick of the quills will not be felt Yet whoever has a great deal of internal warmth of his own will prefer to keep away from society in order to avoid giving or receiving trouble or annoyance Schopenhauer 1851 Parerga and Paralipomena 2 Freud edit nbsp The porcupine on Freud s desk in the study of his London home now the Freud Museum It entered the realm of psychology after the tale was discovered and adopted by Sigmund Freud Schopenhauer s tale was quoted by Freud in a footnote to his 1921 work Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego German Massenpsychologie und Ich Analyse Freud stated of his trip to the United States in 1909 I am going to the USA to catch sight of a wild porcupine and to give some lectures 3 Social psychological research editThe dilemma has received empirical attention within the contemporary psychological sciences Jon Maner and his colleagues Nathan DeWall Roy Baumeister and Mark Schaller referred to Schopenhauer s porcupine problem when interpreting results from experiments examining how people respond to ostracism 4 The study showed that participants who experienced social exclusion were more likely to seek out new social bonds with others In popular culture editThe parable of the hedgehog s dilemma was referenced in the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion especially in its fourth episode of the same name 5 The award winning short film Henry is a modernist version of the hedgehog s dilemma in this story the hedgehog eventually finds social comfort through a turtle that is a fellow social creature who is invulnerable to the hedgehog s spines In the context of the original dilemma this can be taken to represent the need for variability in human social preferences The Japanese vocaloid song Harinezumi by Tota Kasamura is about the hedgehog s dilemma See also edit nbsp Psychology portalList of paradoxes Social isolationReferences edit Veit Walter 28 March 2020 The Hedgehog s Dilemma Psychology Today Retrieved 3 June 2023 a b c Schopenhauer A 1851 Parerga and Paralipomena Short philosophical essays Oxford University Press volume II chapter XXXI section 396 pages 651 652 ISBN 978 0521871853 a b Prochnik George 2007 The porcupine illusion Cabinet Magazine No 26 Retrieved 8 August 2011 Maner J K DeWall C N Baumeister R F amp Schaller M 2007 Does social exclusion motivate interpersonal reconnection Resolving the porcupine problem Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 92 42 55 PDF Retrieved 8 February 2015 Evangelion Chronicle in Japanese Vol 2 Sony Magazines p 23 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hedgehog 27s dilemma amp oldid 1202025536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
