Definition: The convincing illusion of intimacy manufactured when emotionally unavailable people deploy charm, intermittent texting, and vague future plans to harvest validation. Mistaking witty banter or late-night availability for genuine interest, you overlook inconsistent effort and ghosting, believing you’re building something real.
It’s the curated high of attention without accountability—a dopamine drip fed by breadcrumbing and social media likes. Both parties chase the feeling of being understood while actively avoiding vulnerability, leaving you confused why this deep “connection” evaporates without commitment or closure. Modern dating’s most common mirage.
Example:
She felt a deep connection through his witty late-night messages and talk of trips “someday,” but his inconsistent replies and sudden vanishings left her bewildered.
He showered her with attention and likes for weeks, weaving elaborate future fantasies, only to become distant and ghost when she suggested meeting his friends.