Narcissistic Love Bonding and Narcissistic Trauma Bonding are two distinct concepts related to relationships with narcissistic individuals:
- Narcissistic Love Bonding: Narcissistic Love Bonding refers to the initial phase of a relationship with a narcissistic person. During this stage, the narcissist tends to idealize and "love bomb" their partner. They may shower the partner with excessive attention, affection, and compliments, making the partner feel adored and special. This intense and overwhelming attention can create a powerful emotional bond and a sense of being deeply loved.
However, it's essential to understand that the narcissistic love bonding is not genuine love but a manipulation tactic used by the narcissist to control and maintain power over their partner. The narcissist's goal is to gain the partner's admiration, loyalty, and dependency, which will later be exploited in the devaluation and discard phases of the relationship.
- Narcissistic Trauma Bonding: Narcissistic Trauma Bonding occurs as a result of the toxic and abusive dynamics within a relationship with a narcissist. It's a type of bonding that develops between the victim and the abuser due to the intermittent reinforcement of both positive and negative experiences.
In a narcissistic relationship, the narcissist may alternate between periods of love bombing and idealization (positive reinforcement) and devaluation, gaslighting, and emotional abuse (negative reinforcement). This creates a cycle of highs and lows, leading to confusion, dependency, and attachment to the abuser. The victim becomes emotionally bonded to the narcissist, even though the relationship is harmful and damaging.
Narcissistic trauma bonding is similar to the concept of Stockholm Syndrome, where hostages develop emotional bonds with their captors as a survival mechanism.
In summary, narcissistic love bonding is the initial idealization phase in which the narcissist manipulates the partner by appearing loving and affectionate, whereas narcissistic trauma bonding is the result of the abusive and manipulative tactics employed by the narcissist, which leads to an emotional bond between the victim and the abuser, despite the toxicity of the relationship. Both types of bonding are rooted in manipulation and control by the narcissist and can be emotionally damaging to the victim.