Many memes make light of serious global issues, which may not sit well with some. But if you look at the bigger picture, they create a shared experience that brings people together, which is an upside during trying times.
“The act of creating and consuming memes can not only impact emotions and how they affect the self-expression of one’s identity, but they can also bring a sense of closeness with others experiencing the same content,” media psychologist Dr. Angela Patterson explained in an article.
Dr. Patterson adds that memes make for excellent forms of self-expression, especially for young people oblivious about what’s happening around them.
“While they may seem simple and superficial, memes often perform some emotional heavy lifting, and it’s important to recognize the weightier messages they often convey,” she stated.
Take the recent pandemic as an example. Many people relied on memes for levity and comfort during those stressful years. Since most of these posts featured humor, it served as a coping mechanism.
As a licensed clinical psychologist and educator, Dr. Lynn Zubernis points out, viewing memes rather than other forms of content during the pandemic increased coping efficacy by engendering positive emotions.
One common theme among the memes on this list is that they capture human experience. They express emotions we feel every day across different facets of our lives.
Dr. Zubernis used the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme as an example, noting its relatability through the shared fear of betrayal.
You also have the different versions of the “Expectation vs. Reality” memes. In this case, they encapsulate the emotional experience of disappointment, which is familiar to all.
“The meme is amusing, but also feels validating as we’re reminded that disappointment is a part of life and usually not the end of the world,” Dr. Zubernis wrote.
