Commonly used in the realm of romantic relationships, ghosting refers to the abrupt disappearance from another’s life without any discussion or even notification. In recent years, ghosting has emerged as a dynamic impacting all relationship domains. It is a passive communication process used to terminate relationships between friends and is now widespread among families and in professional and corporate settings. In the next virtual meeting of the Relationship Group Seminar on Saturday, February 5, 2022 (11:45 AM to 1:00 PM), we will explore the psychology of ghosting. Scientific findings indicate that ghosting is not a new phenomenon, is more commonthan you might think, and has become a strategy made even easier to employ given current technologies. People appear to ghost for many reasons, including the desire to avoid conflict and for safety reasons. Ghosting is an attractive strategy because it serves as a practical solution to thorny and complex interpersonal dilemmas. Ghosting is typically not viewed as manipulative, and in this way is distinguishable from its close cousin, “breadcrumbing.” Some research has found that the likelihood of ghosting may be linked to certain cognitions about relationships, i.e., if you approach relationships with a frame of reference tied more to “destiny” than “growth,”then you are more likely to ghost. Although most people who ghost do not see the behavior as morally wrong, the impact of ghosting can be quite harmful. Typically, the person who is ghosted is left in a “mind-boggling limbo” as to what happened. Media scholar Sherry Turkle describes how being ghosted “has serious consequences, because when we are treated as if we could be ignored we begin to think that this is okay and we treat ourselves as people who are not supposed to have feelings.”

To register for this upcoming virtual seminar, please see the directions below.

*Registration Directions: If you would like to attend the next virtual meeting of the Relationship Group Seminar on Saturday, February 5, 2022, 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM, please RSVP to me at 949-338-4388 or jt@jamestobinphd.com no later than Thursday, February 3, 2022. The fee is $25.00 (payable before entering the virtual meeting) and informed consent for participation in this telehealth event must be completed prior to the seminar. Please note that the Relationship Group Seminar is psychoeducational in nature, not therapeutic, and does not constitute psychotherapy or counseling.