Anneli Rufus wrote a fascinating and timely book on the subculture of loners, debunking the long-standing cultural branding that loners are dangerous psychos. She persuasively makes her point that people who commit heinous crimes — and who are often described by media and the public as loners — are really people who have unwillingly become outcasts resulting from poor social skills. Loners are people who choose to have less human contact and are content, successful people. They just have a different set of abilities and needs. In a culture that is predominantly extroverted, we have pathologized introversion. As a psychotherapist, I agree with her perspective. A question I ask clients is, “Do you like being alone? Is it a problem for you not to have much social interaction?” If the answer is yes, then we work on the issue of building community and relationship. If the answer is no, then we focus on other pertinent issues.

Rufus also makes the point that much creativity springs from solitude, and that creative energy is diluted by too much interaction. Long stretches of time devoted to the intense process is necessary. This is not to say that extroverts and non-loners can’t be creative. However, there is something about the “different drum,” the “black sheep,” the maverick — wherever you see a person with that trait, look for creativity and genius.

This post was inspired from an article on Wired News (by way of Dave Haxton), which explores Apple Computers rising “coolness factor” among youth. While its reputation is widening and its posting a profit, however, Apple business is not booming. Why is that? Alex Wipperfürth, author of Brand Hijack (a forthcoming book on cult brands) explains, “There will always be a correlation between a product’s coolness and niche market share. By definition, being cool is the opposite of being mainstream, and as long as a brand has a cool cachet, it will remain small.”

Here’s to being small, cool, and solitary. Here’s to introspection, concentration, the feminine (germination), and cultivating an inner life.