We might be familiar with the narcissist’s strategies of “sympathy seeking” and the “now-see-what-you-made-me-do blame shift.”
The other day, I was reading about a strategy known as “love bombing” where there is a pretence of affection, intimacy, attention and trust. The theory is that since the partner experiences warmth, love and hope they will stay in the relationship.
As such, the deeper underlying relationship issues are, for a while, not so noticeable and the hope that all will work out fine, sets in.
However, once the crisis event has faded far enough into the distance, the “love bomb” is also over.
The “love bomb” is deep emotional manipulation and is particularly effective when we are vulnerable.
Because a “love bomb” is unlike “sympathy seeking” which draws attention and the “now-see-what-you-made-me-do blame shift” which accuses, a “love bomb” projects hope. And being hope-directed; being something that speaks to unmet needs; being something that causes one to feel loved, it is also exceptionally painful.
Awareness is empowering, boundaries are sensible, support is critical, and perspective is protective.
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