Wasn't it Jean-Paul Satre who said "Hell is other people" ? I expect he was just moody from a headache caused by smoking too many strong french cigarettes but he makes an interesting point. Personally though I believe us to be basically social animals and if we are denied human contact our behaviour becomes circular and erratic. True, you cannot achieve self-definition if you are dependent on the approval of others but conversely there is no freedom if you are trapped within yourself and unable to let that go.
These are my worthless observations. Told you I'd be no help.