Fabricated Victimhood: Explained by Dr. Fia Johansson, Forensic Psychology Expert and Investigator
“Fabricated victimhood isn’t just lying—it’s emotional manipulation designed to rewrite reality”
By
Nov 5, 2025
Dr. Fia Johansson, Forensic Investigator and Human Behavior Analyst, Warns About the Dangers of Emotional Narratives
Contact Dr. Fia Johansson | Collaborator with Intelligence Services & Law Enforcement on Missing Persons Cases Worldwide
In the digital age, emotional storytelling is rapidly becoming a driving force behind public opinion and perception, particularly on social media platforms. Dr. Fia Johansson, a renowned forensic investigator and human behavior analyst, has worked on solving major missing persons cases around the world, collaborating with intelligence services and law enforcement agencies. Dr. Johansson’s experience has shown that emotional stories—often shared widely across digital networks—can distort public understanding and create misconceptions, even when the storytellers do not intend to deceive.
The process of emotional storytelling, according to Dr. Johansson, begins with authentic information, which is then expanded with emotional language and exaggerated details. "The storyteller uses their narrative skills to create a story that resonates with the audience," says Dr. Johansson. "People who become emotionally invested in a story often disregard fact-checking, allowing the story to evolve according to the storyteller’s preferences."
While the human desire for connection and validation through storytelling is natural, Dr. Johansson warns that the method becomes harmful when emotional validation takes precedence over factual accuracy.
One of the key psychological factors influencing emotional storytelling is emotional reasoning. Dr. Johansson explains that people who rely on emotional reasoning often accept their strong emotions as proof that their stories are true, which can lead to the rapid spread of unverified emotional narratives online. "The spread of emotional stories, even without supporting evidence, is a significant issue," she says.
Dr. Johansson also points to the psychological phenomenon of projection, where individuals assign their hidden emotions and beliefs to others, complicating how public narratives are shared and understood.
Emotional narratives can lead to cognitive biases where individuals view others as having only positive or negative qualities. "People tend to change their perception of someone or an event based on emotional storytelling, often through a lens shaped by their existing beliefs," Dr. Johansson notes. This cognitive bias can distort how new information is interpreted and acted upon.
Social media platforms, according to Dr. Johansson, further amplify the impact of emotional content. The immediate feedback provided through likes, shares, and comments strengthens the emotional perspective of the storyteller, encouraging them to expand on details, often at the expense of factual accuracy. "Sharing emotional content over verified information contributes significantly to the spread of false narratives," she adds.
Dr. Johansson outlines three critical factors that professionals, including herself, use to determine the accuracy of a story:
Consistency Over Time: A credible story remains stable when its elements do not change drastically.
Independent Evidence: The claims made in the story must be supported by evidence from independent sources.
Realistic Sequence of Events: The events described in the story must follow a logical and realistic order.
"If a story lacks these elements, it's likely based more on emotion than fact," Dr. Johansson explains.
Dr. Johansson emphasizes that truth must be at the core of any story, but empathy must also play a crucial role. "People need to maintain empathy but also verify the information to prevent emotional exaggerations from distorting facts," she states. "The preservation of truth is essential for justice and fairness."
As the digital landscape continues to shape public perception, Dr. Johansson urges both storytellers and listeners to maintain active responsibility. "Emotional narratives can help forge meaningful connections, but they become deceptive when readers fail to fact-check," she warns. "People need to be mindful of how emotional influence can affect their thinking and take steps to ensure the accuracy of the information they share."
The key to navigating emotional narratives responsibly is the practice of critical empathy. Dr. Johansson advises people to analyze stories before reacting or sharing them. "It's essential to determine whether the story is based on evidence or if it's using emotional appeals to manipulate the audience," she says. "Critical empathy allows us to appreciate emotional content while ensuring we are not swayed by unverified information."
For more details on Dr. Johansson’s work with investigations, missing persons cases, and forensic behavioral analysis, you can connect with her on her Instagram.
