Aftermath of Breakups - Social Psychology

Aftermath of Breakups
Author
Department, University
Course Code: Name
Professor
Date
The Media's Portrayal on the Aftermath of Breakups.
Breakups are difficult and take a toll on one's emotional, mental, and physical well-being. The end of a relationship leads to feelings of loss, hurt, and vulnerability; those going through a breakup often experience negative emotions of depression, hopelessness, anger, sadness, and self-doubt. Breakups are fairly common; every adult will experience at least one major breakup in their lifetime. Relationships are quite simple to start but maintaining the connection and attraction requires a large amount of effort. The media portrays various angles to the after-effects of a breakup. A majority of TV shows accurately portray life after a breakup for men and women.
The Destructive Ways of Coping after a Breakup.
Since breakups are tough, individuals often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with the hurt of the end of a relationship. The media showcases overindulgence in drugs and alcohol, endless partying, and engaging in meaningless sexual interactions from rebound relationships. In the TV show "Friends," Ross and Rachel go on a "break," which is technically a breakup; the devastation causes Ross to have a one-night stand with another girl. It is common for breakups to lead to hooking up with multiple strangers in one-night stands. The problem with these destructive coping mechanisms is that they only offer short-term relief from the pain of losing a relationship. In Grey's Anatomy, Meredith Grey also has sex with George after her breakup with Derek Shepherd. The sex is a result of the sadness and desperation of being alone. Sex between two romantic partners cultivates an emotional connection and closeness (Birnbaum & Finkel, 2015). However, meaningless sexual encounters after a breakup only leave one feeling sadness and regrets.
The Unrealism of the Media.
The media's primary focus is to entertain; education is relative and depends on a viewer's perspective. However, the scenarios presented on television are often exaggerated and dramatic than the actual reality. For example, in the show "How I Met Your Mother," Barney Stinson goes through a breakup with his first girlfriend, Shannon. Barney vows never to get emotionally involved with a woman and instead has meaningless sexual encounters for years. The recovery period for non-marital breakups ranges from a few weeks to a couple of months and is often shorter than expected (Lecture 4: Maintenance Processes. Module II: How Relationships Work, 2021). Even though recovery varies from person to person, a year is presumably the longest before one gets back to the dating game. Additionally, human beings crave companionship and...