Trauma Bonding
Updated 2026-07-31
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A strong emotional attachment between an abused person and their abuser, built through repeated cycles of cruelty and reconciliation. The pattern overlaps with Stockholm syndrome but emphasises the addiction mechanism: the abuser manufactures fear and then relieves it, and the swing between the two produces a reward far more compelling than consistent kindness. The term appears in clinical and workplace literature on coercive control. The bond is a survival response, not evidence of weakness or of genuine love.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Relationship Diagnosis: map the cycle of harm and relief before calling the attachment love. - Exit Planning: expect withdrawal symptoms rather than a single clean decision when leaving. - Support Design: rebuild outside contact, because isolation is what keeps the bond intact.
Anchor fast decisions
Intermittent reinforcement is more addictive than continuous reward. When cruelty is followed by relief, the relief lands on a nervous system already primed by fear and produces a large dopamine response. The unpredictability keeps the victim monitoring the abuser for cues, which deepens dependence and narrows attention away from alternatives. Isolation then removes the outside reference points that would otherwise make the pattern visible.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_bondingverified
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