Kenopsia: the strange feeling of being in an abandoned place

We live in a world that seems to be moving faster and faster. The planet has been transformed with the implementation of technologies, to the point that there are only a few corners of the world that are unaffected by this revolution. We are hyperconnected, and it is that with a simple click it is possible to have a video call with someone who is thousands of kilometers away.

In addition, consumerism has positioned itself as the core of our lifestyle. This leads us to buy products and services of all kinds that offer us pleasant emotions. This spiral of work and consumption keeps us so busy that sometimes it is difficult to know how to stop and listen to the silence.

However, stopping became an obligation when the coronavirus pandemic established itself in the world. That unknown virus wreaking havoc forced reorganize life in society in order to stop contagion and allocate all resources to its annihilation.

In the first stage we lived a strict confinement, by which practically no one could leave their home except for reasons of force majeure. At that time, going outside was similar to walking on the set of a science fiction movie. Walking through the empty streets, seeing the shops closed, observing the few passers-by with their faces covered by a mask... these are images that we might never have imagined we would see. Seeing how our whole world full of speed, people and entertainment had been put into pause mode caused us great disappointment.

You may not know, but the feeling of restlessness when seeing a scenario as bleak as seeing the streets empty due to, for example, a pandemic, has a name: kenopsia. In this article we will talk about this concept in detail.

What is kenopsis?

It is likely that you have never heard this word before: kenopsia. What is possible is that you have experienced the emotion to which it refers.

The kenopsia is the experience linked to a feeling of restlessness before an empty place that is usually full of people and that, nevertheless, in that situation he remains calm and without the presence of other people, as if he were abandoned. This is exactly what the majority of society felt in the past years, when the pandemic put the entire world on edge. Walking through deserted streets that once looked crowded generates restlessness, discomfort and restlessness. There is no trace of children in schools, nor elderly people on park benches. There are also no people doing sports or buses that transport passengers to their respective jobs.

The truth is that the environments that we are used to seeing inhabited become simple movie sets when what gives them life disappears. Without people, buildings and streets lose all their meaning and their reason for being.

Kenopsis finds its roots in longing, in nostalgia for a known life that no longer exists. Although fortunately we have emerged from the pandemic and its nightmare, the truth is that many people cannot forget that deep discomfort that they felt, that emptiness inside when seeing how everything they knew disappeared one day without knowing if it was going to return.

Feeling kenopsis is not incompatible with the serenity offered by quiet or lonely places. However, the well-being that we find in a remote place is due to the fact that we never saw that space full. Kenopsis only takes place when there is nostalgia, when there has been an abrupt change that makes us feel strange in the face of silence.

• Related article: "Emotional psychology: main theories of emotion"

Kenopsis and its relationship with human gregariousness

Human beings are individuals of a social nature. We need to have a group of equals that covers us in order to survive. Thus, each one of us requires those around us and vice versa, because alone our extreme vulnerability is evidenced. This gregarious way of life has lasted thousands of years, since from the most primitive times it has been an effective strategy of adaptation to an environment full of dangers and hostility.

Despite being what humanizes us, in recent years it seems that we have despised that imperative need of others. Society has shifted towards an increasingly individualistic pattern, where self-sufficiency and ego are rewarded. On the other hand, depending on others is considered a failure, a sacrifice that prevents us from being what we want to be. Perhaps we have reached a point where we have taken everything we have for granted, ignoring that our life is only possible if others are in it.

Today's life encourages the pursuit of one's own pleasure and well-being, even if this means going over the rights of others. However, a dramatic turn of events like the one we have experienced is enough to realize that what fills our souls is not hedonism. Deep down, what fills our souls is not success, beauty, or fun. What nourishes us inside is the warmth of other people, a word of encouragement or a hug. It is the care and the bonds.

Kenopsis is a reflection of our thirst for others. If we feel longing, it is because the lack of life around us hurts, the lack of other people nearby.

• You may be interested in: "What is social psychology?"

Kenopsis in the time of COVID-19

There is no doubt that the pandemic has been a traumatic event for society as a whole. With the arrival of this virus we have had to give up what makes us human: the company of our relatives.

Beyond the fear of getting sick, this situation has made us reconnect with a part of us that perhaps we had been ignoring. Until then, we had prioritized work, obligations, chores... many times sacrificing quality time with those we love most. We had taken for granted having a coffee with a friend, going for a walk, going to the movies or a concert. Everything that we thought perennial suddenly vanished, making us feel that emotion so abstract and difficult to describe: the kenopsia.

Putting into words what we feel sometimes is not an easy task, especially if we had never experienced a similar situation. Finding ourselves immersed in a long-lasting emergency situation, with no clear end on the horizon, put our resilience to the test.

Of course, feeling kenopsy is not a pleasant state. It is a disturbing emotion, which stirs and alters us. However, all our emotions are important regardless of their valence. Allowing ourselves to feel something like this helps us understand what we need, what we lack. Everything we feel is valid and deserves to be heard. Giving space not only for joy and euphoria but also for the harshest emotions is a sign of proper mental health.

Therefore, if at any time you have experienced this emotion, you should not be alarmed. Being disturbed to see an environment that was once teeming with life empty is simply a sign that you are human, that you have an appreciation for life and for others.

Although you may not give importance to this word, the truth is that Naming experiences like this helps us shape and understand them better. Talking about kenopsis also makes it possible to build a support network and promote collective recovery after a trauma that has hit the entire world. Enriching our emotional vocabulary is a first step to increase awareness of what we feel and relate to our internal events in a healthier way.

conclusions

In this article we have talked about a phenomenon known as kenopsia, a concept unknown until a few years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. At that time, a series of profound changes took place in the life and organization of society, which favored a collective heartbreak. The kenopsis makes us experience nostalgia and longing to see a place that was once alive in complete silence.

With confinement, we have all experienced that peculiar feeling when going out on the streets and seeing abandoned and empty cities. The squares, avenues and shops were suddenly transformed into scenes typical of science fiction movies. As if it were a strange nightmare, we stopped being able to do everything that was part of our normality: have a drink with a friend, take a walk, play sports, go to work at the office, etc

The suffering that this situation caused us is due to our gregarious nature. Human beings are individuals of a social nature, since we depend on others to survive. Alone, our vulnerability is maximum.

Giving a name to a collective malaise is, in a way, healing. Labeling our emotions is a first step to being able to understand and manage them. You may never have heard the term kenopsy, but you are surely familiar with the experience that we have described here.

Talking about kenopsis allows us to shape a collective traumatic experience and promote recovery after a few years that have taken away what we need most: the warmth of our equals.