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The Psychology of Letdown: Mapping the 4 Faces of Disappointment with Dr Soha

Author
Relaxire
Published
Wed 06 Aug 2025
Episode Link
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-psychology-of-letdown-mapping-the-4-faces-of-disappointment-with-dr-soha--67268769

Disappointment doesn’t always look like tears. Sometimes, it’s a slow blink. A forced smile. A quiet “It’s fine.” Or worse — no reaction at all.
In this deeply human episode, we sit down with Dr. Soha Malik, cognitive psychologist and expert in emotional expression, to explore The Psychology of Letdown — and introduce her groundbreaking framework: The 4 Faces of Disappointment.
From personal relationships to workplace burnout, broken promises to unmet expectations, disappointment is one of the most universal yet misunderstood emotions. But what happens in the brain when hope collapses? And why do people respond so differently when things don’t work out?
Dr. Soha breaks down her research into four distinct emotional and physiological responses to letdown:
  1. The Collapse – The visible weight of shattered expectation
  2. The Mask – Smiling through the hurt to protect yourself (or others)
  3. The Withdrawal – Emotional shutdown as a survival tactic
  4. The Detachment – When disappointment becomes chronic… and you stop caring altogether


Theraputic Session by [Dr.Soha) "The Psychology of Letdown: Mapping the 4 Faces of Disappointment with Dr. Soha
"Produced by [Team Relaxire]
Special thanks to [All our listeners on all platforms]
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