A lone wolf is a wolf that lives by itself rather than with others as part of a pack. Such wolves are usually rugged and strong, by necessity. Among non-canines, this typically refers to individuals who prefer solitude or prefer to work alone. Three rules usually apply to lone wolf characters in fiction, psychologically speaking:
- It is a person that has lost their in-group, or is unique enough to not have one.
- The world or society in which they exist is typically corrupt.
- They abide by a strong moral code.
A loner is a label for a person who shuns human interaction for a variety of reasons. These reasons can range from a lack of certain social skills or for a desire to be with oneself. A common psychological term used to describe the personality of loners is introversion.
Some individuals refuse to interact with others because of perceived or accurate superiority. They wish to only relate to individuals they consider worthy of their time and attention. Therefore, a loner will have very few intimate relationships. Many feel anxious in their presence because they perceive the loner's disdain towards them.
Related to the above is the socializing aspect of a loner: focusing on certain traits, some loners socialize greater with people with whom they can confide in. Unfortunately it takes time for this bond to occur and when someone unknown to a loner enters the social group, the loner will automatically shell up.
Seeming shy or insecure, most loners can only socialize with people they see constantly. This is in part due to the fact that many loners are overly self-conscious and believe people are constantly sizing up their attributes. The loner himself may take great pride in his behavior.
