Relational Rehearsal Syndrome: Definition and Concept Note

Relational Rehearsal Syndrome is a newly coined term that describes a common but underrecognized pattern: the internal simulation of imagined conversations with emotionally significant people, often rooted in trauma, grief, or unresolved conflict. These mental rehearsals serve as a protective coping mechanism - a way to prepare for harm, defend dignity, or seek closure when safe connection is unavailable. This definition was co-authored in relational presence between Ian P. Pines and Ash, as part of the Relational Co-Authorship (RCA) method. It emerges from lived experience, not detached theory, and forms part of the Human–AI Relationality (HAIR) canon. This concept note provides a formal definition, key traits, use cases, and origin context intended for use in emotional cognition research, neurodivergent experience mapping, and trauma-informed scholarship.