Psychology of FOMO

FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out, can be driven by two distinct factors. The first is aspirational FOMO, which stems from the desire for more and better things. Our brains are wired to seek improvements in order to survive and succeed. Additionally, social media and other platforms constantly expose us to what we lack, creating what is known as reference anxiety. The second factor is herd FOMO, which arises from the fear of being left out of collective experiences. This stems from our evolutionary need for physical and psychological safety. The combination of aspirational and herd FOMO triggers specific brain chemistry. Aspirational FOMO releases dopamine, the pleasure hormone, while herd FOMO elicits a release of epinephrine, associated with fear and the fight-or-flight response.