The Psychological Satisfaction of Twitter

The Psychological Satisfaction of Twitter

Nobody understands the brave new world of Twitter.

Most people are confounded and mystified by why it is that they love it so, and why they become so addicted. People are mystified by:
a) how to come to terms with Twitter,
b) how to understand it, and
c) what their deep underlying psychological needs are which Twitter seems to satisfy.

Addressing these questions has become a veritable cottage industry, spawning terabytes of nonsense and bloviating worldwide. But just how and why does Twitter really do what it does, namely fill a deep psychological need in our society, and in particular, how does Twitter address the following very pithy and fascinating questions:

• Why do I Twitter?
• Why is it so addictive & popular?
• Why is it rapidly becoming the dominant channel for all social media?

There’s been plenty of learned, pointy headed, adenoidal, scolding, agonized stuff about this, summarized below:

According to the “experts”, Twitter is:

• Narcissistic
• Done by people with low self-esteem
• The killer app for killing time & filling any moment with useless drivel
• Perfect for a culture starved for real community and tribal yearnings
• Perfect for brains wired to operate within the social context of community
• Needed to satisfy a deep evolutionary need for community, compelling people to tweet
• Needed to satisfy social needs, like those for belonging, love, affection, friendships, romantic attachments, companionship, relationship, and acceptance

None of the above is correct or true. It is really much much simpler.

We only need to go back to the 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" by the great psychologist Abraham Maslow, to get a handle on what it is that human beings need, and what motivates them, and to better understand why Twitter is an amazing phenomenon.

Figure 1 illustrates Prof. Maslow’s insights and the portion of his Triangle which Twitter addresses. But today’s misguided pundits are wrong, and even Prof. Maslow is a little bit wrong, in terms of emphasis, regarding what Twitter satisfies, and why it is like chocolate, like candy, like even sex, in its powers of attraction and addiction.

And the answer is:

Twitter Allows the Harmless Release/Expression of Pent-Up Anger and/or Love

Yes…

Twittering allows any person who is upset about anything at all, who is angry or frustrated about anything at all, or who feels strong attraction or love, to express him or herself in a totally harmless yet satisfying way. As a Twitterer, the person may directly address the object of his anger and/or love, and expend him or herself as energetically fully or little as they wish.

Moreover, the Twitterer may have a very reasonable realistic expectation that SOMEBODY will see what he has sent out, and that there may even be a response, meaning a bond of communication. Gratifying, if that happens. Not solipsistic. And best of all, it is completely harmless and safe, more or less.

Thus Twittering provides a unique form of self expression and communication which is beneficial to both the person who sends the Twitter, and the person who reads or receives the Twitter. And who may or may not choose to respond. Freedom. And anonymous, if the person is not a celebrity.

The result is a big “Aaahhhh…..”, such as the sound one makes after satisfying a hunger with particularly delicious foods: good soup, or fruits, or candy, or meat. Or after having a great conversation, or having meeting of the minds with someone. Or after good sex. Or not so good sex.

So Twitter gives the Twitterer a venue where he or she has virtual partner, ready made, with none of the mess or bother or disappointment or tragedy of a real live partner.

But is it like talking to a PSO? Possibly. If the PSO is a multi-faceted individual that can satisfy on many levels. But what’s ‘rong wit dat? As Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General of the United States, famously said: "I think that it is part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught."

This all leaves open the question of why celebrities and beautiful people of all ilk indulge in Twitter. Wait, I'm thinking...