concern or be more supportive of strangers
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psychologist who can explain why some people are more likely to express concern or be more supportive of strangers (influencers, celebrities, etc.) than of their real-life friends and family?
The online world has created all sorts of behaviors that have resulted in trying to understand human behavior with new technology. One thing that has be particularly interesting is how people behave with one another in the comments section of these apps.
People seem to feel more comfortable expressing there feelings of support for people they don’t even know rather than people that might be in their very own families. There are several reasons this might be the case.
1) Vunerablility
There are lots people can feel more comfortable doing from behind a screen and being vulnerable is one of them. Most people who have profiles online are looking for some type of validation. When we give someone a compliment or share something we like about them in real life it puts us at risk. We have all been in those circumstances where we pay someone a compliment and they dismiss it or minimize it which never feels good. Even compliments can make people shudder and reject us, therefore the online space allows people to express themselves and be vulnerable without that same fear of rejection.
2) Validation
Imagine a celebrity following you or liking your post online. We give more value to people in the public eye and when we respond to their posts there is always that little sense of hope that they will “heart” what we said or even reply. Behind a screen, there is less real emotional risk with much great rewards and that dopamine hit when someone who you idealize responding to you. It feels much better than your mom or friend saying “thank you for that.” There is a sense of being recognized or seen and then all the fantasies that might come with that as well. Sometimes there can be a hope that this person will begin following you or even reach out and want to collaborate on something, you certainly don’t get that with your inner circle in the same way.
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