Why do you think that we build up a mental image of someone we've never seen before?

[LovingJo]

For instance: When you talk to someone on the phone/regularly, you build up a mental picture in your mind of what they might look like.

Why do you think that we do this?

Is it because of their tone of voice?
Attitude?
Personality?

What reasons do you think we do this, and why?

When you do actually meet them, how often do they actually look the way you thought they were going to?
Not very often, in my experience...
But I would be interested to hear more about what your opinions are and why you think we do it, and your experiences upon meeting people after talking to them, too. 😊

Updates

+1 y

This isn't about eventually meeting up with someone either. This could just be that you talk to a random person on the phone.. Or they you talk to regularly but not ever see.

[SnowedIn]

We humans are very visual. In the absence of that, the brain creates images. I think we have a need to SEE... hence why things like Insta and Snap and Tik Tok are so powerful. They fill in blanks.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for MHO!

[exitseven]

Mostly it is curiosity. There are people on GaG that i wonder what they look like.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[jennifer_bloom]

When I text, I do not picture the person, I might picture their lips and their eyes and their arms or chin, or sometimes just their skin complexion and I’ve had conversations, where I only pictured their hair and clothes.

[coachTanthony]

We do this because it's very seldom that we don't know what one looks like so we tend to build an avatar for them to make it feel normal.

[OlderAndWiser]

I feel a sense of incompleteness until I can put a face with the name.

[Guy13]

Not me, all I see is the Motor 👄 moving with brain impulse speed and waiting for a breath.

🤔, she may be AI….

[Anonymous]

the first time i saw her in march of 2018 she looked exactly like her pictures. and each time i saw her she looked just like her pictures. i used to send her pictures of myself and even videos of myself. most of the time pictures and videos look like how the person would look like in person. once in a great while you'll find it's not always the case

[LovingJo]

Erm, what?

[Opinion Owner]

go back and reread what i put because i'm not answering it again

[LovingJo]

I read what you put, I'm not stupid. It just made no sense to my question (in my head)

[NostalgiaSenpi]

It's probably easier to make a connection with someone if you know what they look like, so your mind does it for you.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I go by what a woman/girl talks to me on the phone and/ or on Zoom and I go by the language she uses too, only Lord knows who I'm talking to.

[Lliam]

I don't recall ever building up a mental image. If I did, I don't think it would be realistic. It would be based on a fantasy.

[msc545]

We do this out of need. we are often quite surprised when our mental image turns out to not match reality.

[Mansearching]

Some do. That sets them up for disappointment. But every once in a while they get a good roll of the dice.

[LovingJo]

Why the fuck does it "set you up for disappointment"? 🤔😂
I'm clearly not my this, unless you're on about male/female/sexual attraction stuff.
Which isn't what this is about... But tell me, so I know 🥰

[Mansearching]

Because if you're talking to someone and you picture them in your head. Then you meet and they are totally opposite of what you pictured. Wouldn't you be disappointed?

[LovingJo]

If you're not looking for sexual "gratification" - why would you be disappointed, as such? 🤔

[Mansearching]

Didn't say anything about sexual gratification. If you're looking for just that, then just put a blindfold on and go for it. Might have to use viagra in addition... lol
But if you are doing it as a blind date, sometimes you got to roll the dice. Sometimes you'll get boxcars and others you'll get snake-eyes.

[LovingJo]

Grrrrr 😤😂

[Mansearching]

Why growling? You never been disappointed? A guy says he looks like Ryan Gosseling. You two meet and he looks like Zach Galifianakis. That wouldn't disappoint you?

[LovingJo]

I've already said yes, love. But that wasn't my point. Nvm.

[Mansearching]

Sorry i guess i did get it.

[Still-alive]

It’s probably influenced by media we consume. Movie actors, models and such.

we just like to put a face to who we talk to. I guess to feel more personable.

[Bklynbadboy12]

I really don't do that I'd rather wait until I meet them

[LovingJo]

You're saying that you don't in any way, build up any mental image at all of the person you speak to in the other end of the line? Whether you meet them, or not? 🤔

[Bklynbadboy12]

No cause I feel like that sets you up for a let down

[LovingJo]

Lol ok

[Bklynbadboy12]

Have you ever done that and been disappointed

[LovingJo]

Of course I have.. But my point isn't this though.. I guess I'm talking more general really? 🙄

[Tstrbrainer]

Lust? 🤔