love bombing

Definition

An act of showering someone with excessive flattery, gifts, attention, and affection early in a relationship to manipulate or control them, often followed by emotional withdrawal or criticism. It's a common tactic used by narcissists, abusers, or manipulative partners to establish power and dependency.

Example Usage

She realized he was love bombing her when the constant compliments and surprises abruptly stopped after she refused to move in with him.

Origin

Coined in the 1960s by members of the Unification Church, who used the term to describe their recruitment tactics.

Fun Fact

The term gained mainstream popularity through social media discourse around toxic relationships in the 2010s-2020s.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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