Abstract:“Ghosting” as a method of relationship dissolution has entered both popular media and academic discussion as a topic of interest. Journalists and researchers have used both observation and qualitative methods to define this breakup strategy with varying and sometimes contradictory results. The goal of this study was to create an accessible and empirical definition of ghosting and to resolve discrepancies between existing definitions. To do so, we asked 499 participants (321 cisgender women, all residing in Can… Show more
“…Social technologies have changed the way people initiate, maintain, and even end their relationships (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2013). One such change is the proliferation of ghosting , which is “when one person suddenly ignores or stops communicating with another person, without telling them why” (p. 408; Kay & Courtice, 2022). As indicated by the participant quotations above, when a person is ghosted (i.e., the target), they may experience feelings of uncertainty and confusion as they try to decipher the why behind the silence.…”
Ghosting—the act of ending a relationship by ceasing communication without explanation—is a type of ostracism that threatens a person’s basic psychological needs for belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control. The experience of ghosting creates uncertainty within the relationship and may vary based on individual differences in the need for closure, which is the desire to avoid ambiguity. Across three preregistered studies with emerging adults, we predicted that a greater need for closure would be associated with lower intentions to use ghosting (Studies 1 and 2) and lower needs satisfaction after being ghosted (Study 3). Results from Study 1 ( N = 553) and Study 2 ( N = 411) were inconsistent, but together indicate that a higher need for closure is not negatively associated—and may be positively associated—with ghosting intentions. In Study 3 ( N = 545), participants who recalled a time when they were ghosted reported lower needs satisfaction than included and directly rejected participants. Further, a higher need for closure was associated with lower needs satisfaction after being ghosted and after being directly rejected, but with greater needs satisfaction after being included. Overall, these findings suggest that the need for closure is less influential when deciding how to end a relationship, but it appears to play an important role in amplifying both positive and negative experiences within a relationship.
“…Social technologies have changed the way people initiate, maintain, and even end their relationships (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2013). One such change is the proliferation of ghosting , which is “when one person suddenly ignores or stops communicating with another person, without telling them why” (p. 408; Kay & Courtice, 2022). As indicated by the participant quotations above, when a person is ghosted (i.e., the target), they may experience feelings of uncertainty and confusion as they try to decipher the why behind the silence.…”
Ghosting—the act of ending a relationship by ceasing communication without explanation—is a type of ostracism that threatens a person’s basic psychological needs for belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and control. The experience of ghosting creates uncertainty within the relationship and may vary based on individual differences in the need for closure, which is the desire to avoid ambiguity. Across three preregistered studies with emerging adults, we predicted that a greater need for closure would be associated with lower intentions to use ghosting (Studies 1 and 2) and lower needs satisfaction after being ghosted (Study 3). Results from Study 1 ( N = 553) and Study 2 ( N = 411) were inconsistent, but together indicate that a higher need for closure is not negatively associated—and may be positively associated—with ghosting intentions. In Study 3 ( N = 545), participants who recalled a time when they were ghosted reported lower needs satisfaction than included and directly rejected participants. Further, a higher need for closure was associated with lower needs satisfaction after being ghosted and after being directly rejected, but with greater needs satisfaction after being included. Overall, these findings suggest that the need for closure is less influential when deciding how to end a relationship, but it appears to play an important role in amplifying both positive and negative experiences within a relationship.
“…Other researchers have disagreed. Kay and Courtice (2022) argue that both LeFebvre et al's (2019) and Koessler et al's (2019a) definitions suffer from major weaknesses. Both include jargon that requires “27 years of schooling” according to the Flesch Kincaid Readability Test (p. 392), which is problematic when asking participants to self‐report their experiences with ghosting.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Koessler et al's (2019a) study was biased towards romantic relationships and their definition accordingly required ghosting to occur within a romantic context. Kay and Courtice (2022) also did not use a representative sample. However, through their qualitative online survey, they generated a broader and more easily understood definition of ghosting (p. 408):One way that people can end a relationship is by ghosting.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Researchers also disagree on the process of ghosting. While Kay and Courtice (2022) concluded that ghosting is “sudden”, others have found more nuanced patterns. According to LeFebvre et al's (2019) qualitative online study, ghosting varies in both suddenness and permanence.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Research on ghosting is still emerging and has typically focused on ghosting in romantic contexts (e.g, LeFebvre et al, 2019; Timmermans et al, 2021) despite the prevalence of ghosting in other contexts such as friendships (Pancani et al, 2022; Powell et al, 2021). In addition, ghosting has not been clearly operationalized (e.g., Kay & Courtice, 2022). Thus, we did not limit our definition of ghosting to romantic relationships, friendships, or any specific contexts (e.g., technology‐mediated).…”
Ghosting has become commonplace beyond romantic relationships. Therefore, we aimed to broadly understand ghosters' (i.e., people who ghost others) experiences including the process of ghosting, reasons and attributions for ghosting, feelings and behaviors associated with ghosting, and attitudes toward ghosting. Thirty‐four undergraduates (65% Latinx, 15% Asian, 12% Black, 8% Other ethnicity) who had ghosted another person were interviewed in‐person about their ghosting attitudes, ghosting behaviors, and a memorable ghosting experience. Inductive thematic analyses informed by grounded theory yielded eight themes: A Clear Cause, Avoidance of Confrontation, Short‐term Orientation, Ghostees as Socially Inferior, Ignoring then Blocking, Attempts by Ghostee to Reach Out, Mixed and Evolving Feelings, and Recognition of Harm. Our findings indicate that psychological consequences for ghosters should be further examined.
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