Ghosting is when someone ends a relationship by suddenly cutting off all contact and ignoring the other person’s attempts to reach them.
Ghosting happens when a person you have been dating or talking to disappears without explanation. The messages stop, calls go unanswered, and there is no closure about why things ended.
The behavior became common with dating apps and texting, where it can feel easier to vanish than to have an honest conversation. Research in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that people who believe strongly in destiny are more likely to see ghosting as acceptable.
Being ghosted can feel confusing and painful because the lack of an answer leaves you guessing. Studies link the experience to lower self esteem and a sense of social rejection, which the brain processes much like physical pain.
Ghosting is different from a slow fade, where contact tapers off gradually rather than stopping all at once. It also differs from zombieing, where the ghost later reappears as if nothing happened.
If you have been ghosted, most therapists agree the healthiest response is to avoid chasing an explanation and to put your energy into people who show up consistently.