Strong disagree on it being a basic human need. I've had months without socializing and didn't think much of it. In fact, I was really happy during those times.
I've had those same months, and didn't feel different. Once that turns into something like 18 months, I started feeling it.
I think it’s a need in the sense that it’s a safety net.
Being isolated and happy for months at a time definitely seems plausible. But if life gets hard, and you succumb to dark thought patterns, addiction, or a depression, very very difficult to pull yourself out of it by yourself.
> Social connections are a basic human need… Being an introvert doesn't mean you don't want to socialise at all - Danièle Gubler and Katja Schlegel