What Is Breadcrumbing And Its Signs In A Romantic Relationship

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JAKARTA - The term breadcrumbing quoting Psychology Today, Tuesday, March 1, can be defined as the act of approaching and giving hope to someone through persuasion, temptation, but ultimately disappoints the individual with false hopes, empty promises, and abandonment.

Breadcrumbing can occur in romantic relationships, in family, friendships, on social media, to professional situations. Simply put, there is no consistency and integrity in breadcrumbing. Breadcrumbing has elements of narcissism, manipulation, and harassment. A breadcrumbing relationship may include one or more of the following characteristics, namely;

Emotional state of ups and downs and feeling uncertain

People who experience breadcrumbing in relationships often experience emotional ups and downs. Most of them experience disappointment and the occasional false hope. Over time, breadcrumbing victims will feel confused, often blame themselves for neglect, to question their own qualities.

Depends on the relationship

In many cases, breadcrumbing can make a person dependent on the relationship. Victims continue to look for breadcumbers (people who do breadcrumbing) to give other false hopes in order to maintain the illusion of a relationship that is considered positive. Some breadcrumbing victims will actually go to great lengths to please and prove their worth to the breadcumber, without receiving sincere acknowledgment and reciprocation in return.

Significantly, breadcrumbers may show interest and concern when they want something from their victim. The goal is only to get back what they want from the victim.

Always made to wait

Apart from being made dependent, breadcrumbing victims are also always made to wait in case the breadcrumber replies to a message or phone call, to follow up on a long-held promise, or to finally show commitment in a relationship.

In this case, an unhealthy and unfair dynamic is created. Breadcrumber wields the power of caring, acceptance, and approval, while victims give up their independence and self-respect.

Feeling manipulated

Deep down, victims of breadcrumbing are aware that they are being orchestrated and hanged. However, some may continue to stay in the relationship to escape the painful reality that the breadcrumber really doesn't care at all. If you're having a hard time letting go, try asking yourself: "Do I deserve to be treated this way?"

Feeling empty and lonely

If continuously hung, breadcrumbing victims will feel lonely, hopeless, depressed, until empty. This emptiness stems from a lack of togetherness in the relationship.