Social Media Chronicizes Jealousy and Creates Narcissistic Injury

Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital Clinical Psychologist İpek Erol stated that social media triggers comparison and inadequacy feelings in human nature, turning jealousy into a chronic inner tension. According to Erol, the problem stems from the relationship established with social media rather than social media itself.

Stating that social media contains an idealized and filtered artificial self-presentation, Clinical Psychologist İpek Erol expressed that although the individual consciously knows these images, the emotional brain processes them as reality. Emphasizing that this process creates narcissistic injury and triggers feelings such as deficiency, worthlessness, and guilt in the individual, Erol noted that jealousy leads to behaviors such as obsessive monitoring and avoidance. Selective content regulation and mindfulness approaches are recommended to avoid comparison.