GRIEF: WHY DO WE MOURN PUBLIC FIGURES?

Few people knew her personally, and yet many of us felt some sense of loss for the Queen

-  DR DEAN BURNETT

On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. At the time of writing, the UK is in the midst of a prolonged period of public mourning.

Regardless of your thoughts about the monarchy, it's undeniable that countless people are genuinely saddened by the Queen's passing, and are experiencing profound grief. This is a fascinating phenomenon, because grief is a complex and demanding process. So, why would so many experience grief over the loss of someone they've likely never met, and who almost certainly had no idea that they existed?

Rather than an anomaly, such grief is actually commonplace. It's because of how our brains work.

Humans are incredibly social creatures. It's the basis for our dominance of the planet. We form emotional connections with other individuals like no other species. But despite what many assume, this need not be a mutual thing. It's entirely possible for us to become deeply emotionally invested in someone who doesn't even know we're there.

Anyone who's ever had a crush on someone from afar, or who's felt like a podcast host is a close personal friend, will know what it's like to be in a parasocial relationship. This is a relationship that's entirely one-sided, with all the emotional investment coming from one person towards another, while the latter is largely oblivious to the whole thing.