When Hurtful Relationships Push Us Towards Fictional Friends

People often feel lonely and left out. This can make them feel sad and even affect their health. But getting rejected is something that happens to everyone. So, what happens when people can't avoid being around those who might hurt or reject them? They might turn to celebrities and fictional characters for comfort.

Studies on Symbolic Bonds

Two studies looked into this. The first study asked people to keep a daily diary. The second study surveyed a group of people. Both studies found something interesting:

When people spend more time with those who might reject them, they tend to connect more with celebrities and fictional characters.

The Nature of Symbolic Bonds

This is a new finding. It shows that when real-life relationships are tough, people might seek comfort in symbolic bonds. These are bonds with people who aren't even real. It's like having a friend who is a celebrity or a character from a book or movie.

Why It Happens

But why does this happen? It might be because these symbolic bonds feel safe. They don't reject or hurt us. So, when real-life relationships are hard, people might turn to these safe bonds for comfort.

The Importance of Healthy Relationships

This is important to think about. It shows how people cope with tough situations. It also shows how important it is to have healthy relationships. When real-life relationships are hard, people might need to find other ways to feel connected.