Anxiety in the Viral Age: A Dialogical Integration of Contemporary Psychology and Islamic Psychology through the Concept of Nafs
(Kecemasan di Era Viral: Integrasi Dialogis antara Psikologi Kontemporer dan Psikologi Islam melalui Konsep Nafs)
Keywords:
Anxiety, Islamic psychology, Mental Health, Nafs, Viral AgeAbstract
The rising prevalence of anxiety in contemporary society is closely linked to the expansion of social media and viral culture, which generate persistent socio-digital pressures. This study analyzes anxiety in the viral era through a dialogical engagement between contemporary psychology and Islamic psychology, positioning the concept of nafs as an analytical framework. Using a qualitative conceptual-analytical design based on library research, the study draws on modern theories of anxiety, empirical findings on social media and mental health, and classical as well as contemporary Islamic scholarship. Data were examined through thematic and comparative-dialogical analysis to identify the characteristics of anxiety in digital contexts and to assess the relevance of nafs. The findings indicate that anxiety in the viral era is persistent and distributed, reflecting structural imbalance within the self and a crisis of meaning. This study proposes an integrative psychological framework that situates Islamic psychology as a dialogical and relevant perspective in contemporary mental health discourse.
Abstrak
Fenomena meningkatnya anxiety dalam masyarakat kontemporer berkaitan erat dengan ekspansi media sosial dan budaya viral yang menghasilkan tekanan sosial digital yang persisten. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis anxiety di era viral melalui dialog antara psikologi kontemporer dan psikologi Islam dengan menempatkan konsep nafs sebagai kerangka analitis. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif konseptual-analitis berbasis studi kepustakaan dengan merujuk pada teori modern tentang kecemasan, temuan empiris mengenai media sosial dan kesehatan mental, serta literatur klasik dan kontemporer psikologi Islam. Analisis dilakukan melalui metode tematik dan komparatif-dialogis untuk mengidentifikasi karakter anxiety dalam konteks digital dan menilai relevansi konsep nafs. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa anxiety di era viral bersifat persisten dan terdistribusi, mencerminkan ketidakseimbangan struktural dalam diri serta krisis makna. Penelitian ini menawarkan kerangka psikologi integratif yang memosisikan psikologi Islam sebagai perspektif dialogis dan relevan dalam diskursus kesehatan mental kontemporer.
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