Toxic Relationships

What is a toxic relationship?

Being in a Toxic Relationship

Using emotional coercion or manipulation to get what one wants
Being selfish or demanding as if you have power over the other person
Acting out the role of parent or child, by showing submission or dominance
Denying your own or the other person's individuality, and seeking a merged identity instead

Why do people enter toxic relationships?

Selection
- This psychological maneuver occurs when someone picks a relationship with a person that is wrong from the start. This person may remind them of a figure from their past who hurt them or mistreated them: "For instance, if you had a parent who was passive and held back emotionally, you might seek out a partner who is more allusive or cold".
Distortion
- Distortion occurs when one distorts/imagines their partner/friend to be similar as another figure from the past. When this happens, one perceives their partner as having negative traits from the same figure earlier on in their lives. This is toxic because it causes the person to respond to their partner in the same way as they responded to the figure that had previously mistreated them.
Provocation
- In this psychological maneuver, one partner provokes the other to treat them as they have been treated in their formative relationships. This is often done unconsciously by the partner, but they begin acting out qualities about themselves that they do not like such as jealousy, for example. Although this creates an unpleasant environment, it is comfortable because of its familiarity.

For more information, please visit: http://www.psychalive.org/toxic-relationship/