Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

? asked in Social SciencePsychology · 8 years ago

What would happen to a person if they were deprived of any sort of entertainment for days?

Okay, first off, let me explain now that I am a WRITER. Not a psychopath or something, hehe.

Secondly, let me elaborate a little bit:

If someone was kept in a plain, white cell with no means of entertainment whatsoever besides a small window that looks out into space (the thing I'm writing is a Doctor Who thing) for several days, what would happen to them? Like, psychologically and behaviorally? And how would they behave when they were let out of the cell? Would they be spacey? Easily overwhelmed? Neurotic?

I have a character who's being held hostage (also in danger of possibly being executed) by some villains in an empty, white cell, being fed by means of a sort of nutritious aerosol sprayed into the room at certain times of day. Not sure that last part's actually possible, but what the hell. Eheh.

So yeah, how would their behavior and psychological well-being be affected by something like this? Keeping in mind that the aforementioned character has been through some other intense/traumatizing experiences already and is slightly accustomed to dangerous situations, and they've been rescued by their counterpart every time.

Thanks! c:

(sorry, wasn't sure about the category)

Update:

To clarify "without" for the person that asked, I mean with literally (first/original definition) nothing. No paper or pencil, not even kiddie toys, nothing. During the hours she's meant to be sleeping, a cushion/pad thing attached to an unreachable platform rises out of the floor and is removed during waking hours. Aside from the mostly-absent bed and the little window that looks out at the stars, the only stuff she's got is the walls, floor, ceiling and maybe every couple days or so (although she'd probably only be held for less than a week), a shower. They also would have taken her phone. She'd essentially have nothing.

3 Answers

Relevance
  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Probably a lot of self-contemplation. When people are left with nothing externally, they usually turn inwards to their own mind and do a lot of thinking.

  • 8 years ago

    You mean... like not even a piece of paper and pencil or anything to write with?

    Clarify "without."

    I would assume that they would be more appreciative of the simple things in life.

  • 8 years ago

    You realize that this exists, right? It's called solitary confinement. If you want to know the effects look up the effects of solitary confinement, although I can tell you now that nothing good comes from it.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.