Ghosting was born as a strategy to end or terminate an emotional relationship through the accessibility provided by social networks, which allows the interaction to be virtual and not in person. In this way, the interaction occurs only superficially, so resorting to ghosting or disappearing from the person’s life becomes an easy and comfortable option.
This event is considered a disrespectful act that ends a relationship through the disappearance of the sender, who decides to walk away and stop responding to messages, calls and cut off all types of communication from the receiver. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk in depth about What is ghosting, its causes, types and how to act in these cases.
What is ghosting
In a study carried out by Widen (2016), ghosting on social networks is contextualized as a violent and cruel way to end a romantic relationship, since in a direct context, it is about disappear from the interaction without giving explanations or warningsleaving emotional consequences on the person who has been abandoned.
The term ghosting comes from the digital era 3.0 and from the English word Ghost, which in Spanish refers to ghost. Beck (2017) conceptualize it as a phenomenon in which it is assumed ends a relationship through a spectral absence. This practice intentionally cuts off all types of contact.
It is not exclusive to couple relationships, as it can occur in friendship relationships. Ghosting is considered when a previous interaction or communication has already occurred and It can happen at any stage of the relationship.. It is not determined by gender whether it is a man or a woman, but by the emotional maturity and communication skills that the person possesses.
Ghosting is not a new practice, but it has increased frequently due to the interpersonal relationships that human beings currently maintain with advances in technology and the media. In this article, we tell you.
Causes of ghosting
Various studies have provided information on the profile of a person who is more likely to engage in ghosting. According to psychologist Iserte, M. (2021), the causes of ghosting usually derive from patterns that lead to committing this type of emotional abuse. The patterns that often cause ghosting are:
- Low self-esteem.
- Having previously suffered ghosting.
- Difficulty managing emotions.
- aggressive or shy.
- Psychological difficulties or problems.
- Social anxiety that tends to manifest more frequently in young people.
Consequences of ghosting
The consequences of ghosting tend to be destructive in people who suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety or depression because there is no sensible response to the event that justifies the disappearance of the other person. The silent treatment can be a tactic that can be considered emotional cruelty.
These consequences They will depend on how important the person has been. who has done ghosting. If it was a relationship that had only been known for a short time, the act will not represent more than a slight annoyance that will be overcome immediately. If it was a romantic relationship or an intimate friendship, it can have a noticeable impact with sadness and.
For many people it can represent a feeling of disrespect, feeling used and discarded. Furthermore, if the person does not know how to manage their emotions, the act of ghosting reinforces cognitive distortions and negative beliefs that is possessed and interpreted as a deserved act based on a feeling of .
Another consequence of ghosting is that closing the cycle of the breakup with that person becomes more difficult because the causes or reasons for it are unknown, which leads to constantly questioning what could have happened.
Types of ghosting
On the other hand, Pinzón (2020) mentions that ghosting is carried out in different ways. Let’s see what the types of ghosting are:
- Minighosting: refers to the fact that conversations are linked late and almost always start with the same member, who is the one who ends up suffering ghosting.
- Passive ghosting: The planned meetings begin to be canceled in advance by the sender and, although the behavioral reinforcement of generating a “like” on the receiver’s photos is maintained, no type of conversation is generated.
How to act if you are ghosted
If you’re wondering how to respond to ghosting, the first thing is recognize it and avoid having false hopes of falling into a similar situation later. If you ever find yourself faced with this situation, below we will tell you how to act if you are ghosted:
- Avoid justifying the why the other person He ghosted you and cut off all types of communication.
- Have good self-esteem It will help you analyze the other person’s behavior and set self-limits based on what you deserve and what you don’t, reducing the meaningful value that has been given to the other person.
- Don’t generalize this attitude with other emotional relationships.
- If you think you need help to overcome it, it is recommended ask a psychologist for help to help you evaluate the situation and give you the necessary and scientific tools to overcome the breakup.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Ghosting: What it is, causes and typeswe recommend that you enter our category.
References
- Iserte, M. (2021). Montse Iserte. Recovered from: https://montseiserte.com/es/que-es-el-ghosting/
- Pinzón Salcedo, ER (2020). Ghosting as a phenomenon of virtual breakup in relationships.
Bibliography
- Rodriguez, K. (sf). Psychological health. Retrieved from: http://recursosbiblio.url.edu.gt/CParens/Revista/Bienestar/Numeros/03/05/03.pdf