Loved ones may feel pain and outrage that a stranger would usurp the right to use their loved one's image in such a sensational way. Families often strive to commemorate the deceased in a dignified manner—for example, by appealing for privacy, organizing a peaceful funeral, and cultivating a positive image. However, when a recording begins circulating online in which the alleged "spirit" of that person—either through EVP or a self-proclaimed medium—purports to recount the details of their tragic death, it's like opening a fresh wound .
Imagine the mother of a murdered girl, grieving, trying to recover, only to receive a link to the film "A Conversation with the Deceased Iryna – Her Last Words from the Afterlife." Such a shock can even lead to a recurrence of trauma . Psychologists point out that grieving people are extremely sensitive to the memory of the deceased , and also prone to searching for any signs that their loved one still "exists" somewhere on the other side (a visible manifestation of this is the mass postings on forums and social media, asking people to check on the afterlife of their recently deceased loved one).
Unfortunately, this susceptibility is sometimes exploited by various self-proclaimed mediums and fortune tellers – which could even be called preying on grief .
It works similarly online: family or friends of the deceased may be inclined to believe such a message (because they desperately want to believe the deceased is sending a sign). This can provide temporary relief—a sense of connection—but in the long run, it fosters an illusion that can make processing the loss more difficult. Instead of accepting the passing of a loved one, someone may begin obsessively searching for further "signs" and recordings, becoming stuck in a phase of denial or false hope.Moreover, if the message "from beyond the grave" is disturbing or dramatic (e.g., "I'm in the dark," "They left me to my fate"—such phrases appeared in alleged EVPs attributed to Iryna Zarutskaya, supposedly describing her final moments), it is a powerful emotional shock for the family . Even if reason tells them it's untrue, the heart and imagination can play tricks—tormenting images and questions like , "What if she really felt this way? What if she's still suffering?" arise . The creators of such content tend not to consider the psychological impact their material might have on those affected by the tragedy—what matters to them is views (and financial profits from advertising). Unfortunately, the emotional costs are passed on to the families .
And not just on families. Public opinion as a whole also experiences certain effects. The publicity surrounding pseudo-paranormal stories can desensitize us to the deaths of others – they become just another selling point in a media show, rather than an opportunity for reflection or compassion. Instead of genuinely caring about the fate of the victim, audiences become excited by a "dark curiosity."
For some audiences, such short films act like horror films—they thrill but distance themselves from the real drama (because they treat the subject semi-seriously). This can lead to a diminished empathy : the murder becomes a meme, the victim's ghost a one-day sensation, after which viewers scroll on as if it were fiction. In this way, society may lose its ability to take real victims and their families seriously.On the other hand, it's worth mentioning that some people defend such practices, arguing that they can bring solace to people —for example, fans who, after losing a favorite artist, feel they've received a final farewell through "his voice from the afterlife." There have been instances where commenters have written that they're happy to hear that "X's soul has found peace" or "that he's not suffering on the other side."
Such opinions, however, stem from a blind faith in the authenticity of the message – which, as psychologists point out, is a double-edged sword. This can help one come to terms with the loss, but it can be even more damaging when it turns out to be an illusion. Grief therapy specialists emphasize that mediums and pseudo-therapeutic spiritualistic séances are no substitute for professional help or an authentic process of processing grief. Worse still, they can delay the necessary confrontation with reality – and in extreme cases, grieving individuals become dependent on subsequent "sessions" in search of contact, keeping them suspended between the world of the living and the imagined world of spirits.
From a psychological perspective, such public "communication" with the deceased, without the consent and participation of their families, is often harmful and unethical . It can deepen the trauma of loved ones, create emotional chaos, and delay healthy processing of grief.
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