From Match to Mute

Ghosting, the abrupt termination of romantic relationship without explanation, has become a common yet underexplored phenomenon in online dating. As dating applications increasingly influence interpersonal relationships, understanding the social and psychological factors that lead to ghosting is becoming increasingly important. This study investigates the differences in ghosting intentions and attitudes throughout five stages of online dating interactions (after initial contact, sustained conversations, first offline meeting, sexual intimacy, and during an established relationship), and how these patterns relate to personality traits associated with the Dark Triad: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. A survey performed online (N = 154) targeted young individuals aged 18-35, mainly from Europe. Participants evaluated five context-specific vignettes, each depicting a distinct phase of romantic development, and assessed the probability and acceptability of ghosting in each scenario. They also administered the Short Dark Triad (SD3) measure to evaluate their levels of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Research demonstrates that ghosting becomes markedly less acceptable and less probable as relational intimacy escalates. Individuals exhibiting elevated levels of Machiavellianism and psychopathy were more prone to ghosting, especially in initial interactions. Narcissism had a more consistent correlation with increased tolerance of ghosting over various stages. Gender analysis indicated that males exhibited more intents to ghost than females across multiple circumstances. This study enhances the literature by situating ghosting within several phases of dating app interactions and correlating it with enduring personality features. The findings highlight the necessity of comprehending ghosting not merely as a social behavior, but as a psychological and contextual phenomenon influenced by personality traits and technology capabilities.