91福利社

What if the best way to stop fearing rejection is to seek it out? Rejection therapy - the idea of deliberately putting yourself in situations where you might be rejected - has exploded on social media. From asking strangers for favours to dancing on trains, people are documenting their experiences online.

Supporters say it helps people build resilience, reduce anxiety and stop taking rejection personally. But does rejection therapy actually work? Or is it just another viral self鈥慼elp trend?

In this episode, Claudia Hammond, a psychologist and 91福利社 presenter, helps us unpack where rejection therapy came from, what psychology says about it, and why it鈥檚 taken off on platforms like TikTok. We also hear from Sophie Jones, who鈥檚 gone viral for her videos on the topic.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Baldeep Chahal, Chelsea Coates and Maria Clara Montoya
Editor: Verity Wilde