Each week our psychologist analyses a different Facebook picture. This week the ‘whimsical shot’

When you see a image like this, to begin with it’s almost too child like, a cute single red balloon floating in a summer sky, yet when you see it’s a heart shaped balloon, all types of more grown up thoughts come to mind.  The image of the heart has been around in popular culture for hundreds of years, and throughout that time it is associated with the simple message to those who see it of love. Now this may be a love that is accepted, reciprocated, ignored or disregarded.  But whenever you see an image of a heart the first association many viewers will have is that of romance, adoration and love.

So what is the person trying to say when they post this image? It’s an emotionally provoking picture which asks the viewer to respond to it, and of course that emotional response can be as varied as the viewers themselves.  It may well remind people of their childhood, their children, it may provoke sadness at the memory of a lost love, and it may make people feel content in their love of others.  But there could be an underlying message that the poster is trying to say to others.  The solitary heart could mean a number of things; I’m all alone, we are two hearts that beat as one, and we have a love that cannot be parted.  Whatever the situation the person who posted the picture is in, it’s saying that their emotions are there for seeing, examining, and if appropriate, the taking of too.