A Working Theory on the Development of Certain Toxic Relationship Patterns
One observation I have made is that individuals who have had limited exposure to roles requiring sustained selflessness, long-term commitment, or responsibility toward the needs of others may be more susceptible to developing certain toxic relationship behaviors. Examples of such experiences might include: Raising children. Caring for elderly family members. Maintaining a long-term partnership that requires sacrifice, compromise, and emotional stability. Assuming responsibility for the welfare and well-being of others over an extended period. The common element across these experiences is that they often require a person to regularly subordinate their immediate wants, emotions, or preferences in service of a larger objective, relationship, or collective good. Without such experiences, an individual's worldview can become excessively self-referential. Interactions are frequently filtered through a lens of personal validation, personal grievance, and personal expectations. As a res...