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“Ghosting” Carries with It Harm Beyond Belief for the Ghostee
Suddenly dropping a friendship or relationship without explanation has psychological harm, as science has now revealed.
The psychological effects of “ghosting” in romantic relationships can be profound for those who go through it, and the topic has even gained attention from business magazines like Forbes.
This method of abruptly and mysteriously cutting off all contact in a romantic relationship can cause severe emotional damage. But ghosting is also something we see in friendships where the result is depression. “By contrast, its occurrence within friendships as well as the psychological predictors and effects of ghosting others over time with regard to well-being are not comprehensively understood yet.” Some believe our connection to a digital world may play a role. In fact, ghosting may be seen as a form of ostracism.
Why would someone ghost you, and is there something wrong with you? These might be questions asked when a friendship is ghosted. Even though this aspect of a sudden disconnect might be intriguing, it is receiving, as noted, far less attention than that given to romantic relationships.
According to research, being ghosted can result in feelings of rejection and abandonment, which in turn can cause or aggravate anxiety and sadness in the ghostee…
