The trauma bond: a radically different perspective
In this episode of The Narcissism Decoder, we explore trauma bonding—a profound psychological pattern where individuals form intense attachments to manipulative and abusive relationships, despite recognizing the harm. Through a psychoanalytic lens, we examine connections to unprocessed early losses and the creation of sadomasochistic dynamics. Trauma bonding is revealed as a defense mechanism against a lack of vitality in the early parent/child matrix, resulting in a profound inner deadness and an inability to acknowledge loss, leading to pathological mourning.