Relationship expert explains why people ghost and what they may regret later

If you've ever dated someone who stopped reaching out and responding to texts, without any conversation about ending the relationship, you’ve been ghosted."Ghosting," or the sudden absence or unresponsiveness of a potential partner, is more than just feeling ignored by someone you’re interested in, according to Monica Ricci, a Georgia-based relationship coach — it's a complete disappearance without closure.Why do people ghost? Ricci suggested it’s a "classic avoidance behavior." "It's the same reason we procrastinate — we're avoiding some kind of discomfort," she said.THE MARRIAGE WARNING SIGN THAT MAY BE WORSE THAN FIGHTING — AND 4 WAYS TO TURN THINGS AROUND"It could be a fear of having a really hard conversation.It could be not wanting to disappoint a person," Ricci went on.

"Someone could ghost because they just don't care enough.They're just not invested enough that they believe it [would] warrant communicating to say, ‘Hey, this isn't working for me.'"Ghosting is a "classic avoidance behavior," the relationship expert said.

(iStock)Those who do the ghosting may feel a sudden sense of relief, according to Ricci, but may also have lingering guilt around how the relationship was left unfinished.A new paper based on three studies, published in Sage Journals, suggests people who are ghosted underestimate the guilt and remorse felt by those who cut off contact.5 MARRIAGE MISTAKES COUPLES MAKE WITHOUT REALIZING IT — AND HOW TO AVOID THEM"There's a part of you that may know that wasn't the best way to handle it," Ricci said."And so it may stay with you a lot longer because it calls into question the kind of person you want to be."It’s easy to take ghosting personally, she noted.Ghost-ers can experience more grief than expected, according to research.

(iStock)"But the truth is, if you're being ghosted, it says more about the person who ghosted you and their ability to have honest communication, their ability to step up in an uncomfortable situation...