Ever wondered why the fear of missing out, or FOMO, grips us so intensely? Let's delve into the psychological underpinnings of this phenomenon, exploring its roots in our social nature and its amplification in the digital age.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out on experiences we deem worthwhile, may make people feel they aren’t living their lives as fully as their counterparts are
Surprisingly, social media doesn’t seem to directly cause this phenomenon
- Research has shown that people with no social media presence experience FFOO to the same degree as any social media-addicted person
- If people’s basic psychological needs aren’t met, they are more likely to experience this psychological condition
Healthy FOMO?
When people approach FMO with self-awareness and investigate why they’re experiencing it in the first place, they can make beneficial adjustments in their lives.
- The feeling can even serve as a powerful motivator when people start listening to it thoughtfully and map out the approach to realistically achieve their goals.
Individual Susceptibility
Several factors can contribute to FOMO
- The state of one’s mental health
- A lack of satisfaction with one’s life can also induce these feelings
- Overall, our perceived quality of life is a major component of subjective wellbeing
- Reaching true contentment, meanwhile, can take plenty of effort
FOMO Inside the Brain
Our brains may pull memory files that resurface the painful psychological responses we experienced after missing out on activities we considered pleasurable
- Social exclusion itself profoundly activates the amygdala and hypothalamus, which are one of the most robust stressors we experience
- Another possible neurological mechanism is that certain dopamine reward pathways are slightly reactivated when people think of positive past experiences or crave those experiences again
- Overall, more research is needed to pinpoint the precise brain regions associated with the condition
