When two people who exhibit narcissistic traits or behaviors enter a relationship and engage in love bombing each other, it can lead to a unique dynamic. Love bombing is a manipulative tactic often used by narcissists to quickly and intensely win over their partners at the beginning of a relationship. It involves showering the other person with excessive affection, attention, compliments, and gifts to create a sense of euphoria and emotional dependency.
When both partners engage in love bombing each other, it can result in the following dynamics:
Initial Intense Connection: At the beginning of the relationship, both individuals may feel an intense emotional connection due to the overwhelming positive attention they are receiving from each other. They might believe they have found their "perfect match" and feel an immediate bond.
Idealization Phase: Each person idealizes the other, seeing them as the epitome of perfection, which can intensify the feeling of being soulmates. This mutual idealization can lead to a sense of euphoria and create an emotional high.
Emotional Dependency: The excessive attention and validation received during love bombing can lead both partners to become emotionally dependent on each other for their sense of self-worth. This dependency can foster a cycle of codependency in the relationship.
Potential for Power Struggles: Narcissists tend to crave control and seek admiration. In a relationship where both individuals exhibit narcissistic traits, power struggles may arise as they compete for dominance and validation.
Fragile Foundation: Love bombing creates an artificial and unsustainable foundation for a relationship. As the initial intense phase subsides, the partners may struggle to maintain the same level of validation and excitement.
Conflict and Devaluation: Over time, as the honeymoon phase fades, conflicts may emerge as the partners' true personalities and vulnerabilities surface. Each person may start to devalue the other when they fail to meet unrealistic expectations.
Possible Collapse: With both partners craving excessive attention and validation, it becomes difficult to sustain the love bombing behavior indefinitely. As the relationship faces challenges and the idealized images start to crumble, the relationship may become tumultuous and eventually collapse.
It's important to note that relationships involving individuals with narcissistic traits can be emotionally and psychologically taxing. These dynamics can be damaging to both partners, and it may be challenging to establish a healthy and stable relationship. Professional counseling or therapy can be beneficial for both individuals to address their patterns of behavior and explore healthier ways of relating to others.