Ghosting. Let's talk about it.
Psych 🧠- 252/300
Reader,
Have you ‘ghosted’ someone before or ever been a victim of it?
Let’s look at the definition and understand the findings of a study based on it.
What is it?
Ghosting, a common social phenomenon, is when someone abruptly and unresponsively ends communication with another person, often in relationships or friendships.
This abrupt disconnect leaves the affected person without closure or explanation, which can be emotionally challenging.
In the light of this, there was study conductd that examined the effects of ghosting and orbiting, common breakup behaviors involving sudden communication cutoffs, on the individuals being "ghosted" or "orbited."
Participants who experienced ghosting reported more negative emotional outcomes and unmet psychological needs compared to those who experienced rejection.
Interestingly, the ambiguous behavior associated with orbiting appeared to provide some relief to the victims, suggesting a complex psychological impact of these practices in the context of relationship dissolution.
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What do I need to know?
This study contributes to the growing body of research considering ghosting and orbiting as forms of social exclusion.
The results suggest that these practices have varying impacts on individuals experiencing them.
Ghosting generally results in more negative outcomes, such as threatening basic needs and feelings of exclusion, compared to rejection.
On the other hand, orbiting, with its ambiguous signals, appears to provide some protection against the harsh effects of abrupt separation.
However, it's possible that the prolonged negative effects of orbiting may not be immediately apparent.
This research is just the beginning, and further studies are needed to explore the nuances of ghosting, orbiting, and rejection in the context of modern technology and their impact on face-to-face relationships.
Sources:
https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/14691