Phenomenological Studies: Exploring Someone's Reasons for Doing Ghosting
Abstract
This study examines the reasons why someone ghosts, which is the act of ending a relationship suddenly without explanation and withdrawing from all communication. In the era of social media, ghosting has emerged (trending) as a contemporary term for a phenomenon in the real or virtual world that is increasingly growing and believed by the wider community. Although ghosting generally occurs in romantic relationships, it also occurs in other forms of relationships, such as friendship, work, business, and group assignments. Someone who ghosts will suddenly stop communicating without explanation. At the same time, the victim feels a loss of communication for no apparent reason, resulting in different consequences for both parties involved. This study used a qualitative research method and found that there are several reasons why someone ghosts, namely avoiding attachment, relationship incompatibility, avoiding conflict, and relationship dissatisfaction. These findings can provide a better understanding of the ghosting phenomenon and help people understand the reasons behind this behavior.
References
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8. Jewell, T. (2019, March 4). What Is Ghosting, Why Does It Happen, and What Can You Do to Move Past It?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/ghosting
9. Navarro, R., Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., & Víllora, B. (2020). Psychological correlates of ghosting and breadcrumbing experiences: A preliminary study among adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1116.
10. Morgan, E. M. (2013). Contemporary issues in sexual orientation and identity development in emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 1(1), 52-66.
11. Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2021). Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. In Stat Pearls [Internet]. Stat Pearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470321/
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13. Marciano, L., Ostroumova, M., Schulz, P. J., and Camerini, A. L. L. (2022). Digital media use and adolescents' mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Public Health 9:793868. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.793868
14. Hertlein, K. M., & Piercy, F. P. (2008). Therapists’ assessment and treatment of Internet infidelity cases. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 481–497.
15. Schade, L. C., Sandberg, J., Bean, R., Busby, D., & Coyne, S. (2013). Using technology to connect in romantic relationships: Effects on attachment, relationship satisfaction, and stability in emerging adults. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 12(4), 314-338.
16. Beckmeyer, J. J., & Jamison, T. B. (2020). Is breaking up hard to do? Exploring emerging adults' perceived abilities to end romantic relationships. Family Relations, 69(5), 1028-1040.
17. Beckmeyer, J. J., & Jamison, T. B. (2020). Is breaking up hard to do? Exploring emerging adults' perceived abilities to end romantic relationships. Family Relations, 69(5), 1028-1040.
18. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
19. Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. (1998). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons Inc.
20. Rubin, H.J. and Rubin, I.S. (2012). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. (3rd ed.). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.
21. Kelly, S. E., Bourgeault, I., & Dingwall, R. (2010). Qualitative interviewing techniques and styles. The SAGE handbook of qualitative methods in health research, 307-326.
22. Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and policy in mental health and mental health services research, 42, 533-544.
23. Bernhard, J.G., Glantz, K. (2021). Relationship Dissolution. In: Shackelford, T.K., Weekes-Shackelford, V.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_2923
24. Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. Routledge
25. Navarro, R., Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., & Víllora, B. (2021). Individual, interpersonal and relationship factors associated with ghosting intention and behaviors in adult relationships: Examining the associations over and above being a recipient of ghosting. Telematics and Informatics, 57, 101513.
26. Retana-Franco, B. E., & Sánchez-Aragón, R. (2020). The impact of emotional attachment and culture on the breakup strategies perceived by the abandoned. Acta Colombiana de Psicología, 23(1), 66-77.
27. Kreager, D. A., Cavanagh, S. E., Yen, J., & Yu, M. (2014). “Where have all the good men gone?” Gendered interactions in online dating. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(2), 387-410.
28. Daraj, L. R., Buhejji, M. R., Perlmutter, G., Jahrami, H., & Seeman, M. V. (2023). Ghosting: Abandonment in the Digital Era. Encyclopedia, 4(1), 36-45.
Read More
2. McQuillan, S. (2020, February 1). Ghosting: What it is, why it hurts, and what you can do about it. Psycom. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/what-is-ghosting
3. Pancani, L., Aureli, N., & Riva, P. (2022). Relationship dissolution strategies: Comparing the psychological consequences of ghosting, orbiting, and rejection. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 16(2).
4. O’Brien, S.A. (2014, March 24). And Then I Never Heard From Him Again: The Awful Rise of Ghosting. The Date Report. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from web.archive.org/web/20140820064044/http://www.thedatereport.com/dating/advice/and-then-i-never-heard-from-him-again-the-awful-rise-of-ghosting/
5. Freedman, G., Powell, D. N., Le, B., & Williams, K. D. (2019). Ghosting and destiny: Implicit theories of relationships predict beliefs about ghosting. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(3), 905–924. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407517748791
6. Freedman, G., Powell, D. N., Le, B., & Williams, K. D. (2019). Ghosting and destiny: Implicit theories of relationships predict beliefs about ghosting. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(3), 905–924. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407517748791
7. Moore, C. W. (2014). The mediation process: Practical strategies for resolving conflict. John Wiley & Sons.
8. Jewell, T. (2019, March 4). What Is Ghosting, Why Does It Happen, and What Can You Do to Move Past It?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/ghosting
9. Navarro, R., Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., & Víllora, B. (2020). Psychological correlates of ghosting and breadcrumbing experiences: A preliminary study among adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1116.
10. Morgan, E. M. (2013). Contemporary issues in sexual orientation and identity development in emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 1(1), 52-66.
11. Orenstein, G. A., & Lewis, L. (2021). Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. In Stat Pearls [Internet]. Stat Pearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470321/
12. Drew, C. (March 7, 2023). Intimacy vs Isolation: 10 Examples (Erikson 6th Stage). Helpful Professor. Retrieved from https://helpfulprofessor.com/intimacy-vs-isolation-examples/
13. Marciano, L., Ostroumova, M., Schulz, P. J., and Camerini, A. L. L. (2022). Digital media use and adolescents' mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Public Health 9:793868. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.793868
14. Hertlein, K. M., & Piercy, F. P. (2008). Therapists’ assessment and treatment of Internet infidelity cases. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 481–497.
15. Schade, L. C., Sandberg, J., Bean, R., Busby, D., & Coyne, S. (2013). Using technology to connect in romantic relationships: Effects on attachment, relationship satisfaction, and stability in emerging adults. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 12(4), 314-338.
16. Beckmeyer, J. J., & Jamison, T. B. (2020). Is breaking up hard to do? Exploring emerging adults' perceived abilities to end romantic relationships. Family Relations, 69(5), 1028-1040.
17. Beckmeyer, J. J., & Jamison, T. B. (2020). Is breaking up hard to do? Exploring emerging adults' perceived abilities to end romantic relationships. Family Relations, 69(5), 1028-1040.
18. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
19. Taylor, S. J., & Bogdan, R. (1998). Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons Inc.
20. Rubin, H.J. and Rubin, I.S. (2012). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. (3rd ed.). Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.
21. Kelly, S. E., Bourgeault, I., & Dingwall, R. (2010). Qualitative interviewing techniques and styles. The SAGE handbook of qualitative methods in health research, 307-326.
22. Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and policy in mental health and mental health services research, 42, 533-544.
23. Bernhard, J.G., Glantz, K. (2021). Relationship Dissolution. In: Shackelford, T.K., Weekes-Shackelford, V.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_2923
24. Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. Routledge
25. Navarro, R., Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., & Víllora, B. (2021). Individual, interpersonal and relationship factors associated with ghosting intention and behaviors in adult relationships: Examining the associations over and above being a recipient of ghosting. Telematics and Informatics, 57, 101513.
26. Retana-Franco, B. E., & Sánchez-Aragón, R. (2020). The impact of emotional attachment and culture on the breakup strategies perceived by the abandoned. Acta Colombiana de Psicología, 23(1), 66-77.
27. Kreager, D. A., Cavanagh, S. E., Yen, J., & Yu, M. (2014). “Where have all the good men gone?” Gendered interactions in online dating. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(2), 387-410.
28. Daraj, L. R., Buhejji, M. R., Perlmutter, G., Jahrami, H., & Seeman, M. V. (2023). Ghosting: Abandonment in the Digital Era. Encyclopedia, 4(1), 36-45.
Authors
[1]
“Phenomenological Studies: Exploring Someone’s Reasons for Doing Ghosting”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 8, no. 09, pp. 5111–5117, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v8i09.1355.
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