What does it mean to have a “trauma bond” with someone? Trauma bonding refers to the deep emotional attachment one might feel towards their abuser, and it’s more likely to develop in those who have a history of abuse, exploitation, or emotional codependency in their past relationships. Regardless of whether the relationship is romantic, platonic, or familial in nature, trauma bonds can easily be mistaken for feelings of love and commitment towards another person. So we made this video to help you understand the difference of trauma bonding and true love.

If you related to this video and want to learn more about narcissism in relationships, we have a video on the signs you may be dating a narcissist:    • 6 Signs You're Dating a Narcissist  

Writer: Chloe Avenasa
Script Editor: Vanessa Tao
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Voice: Amanda Silvera (   / amandasilvera  )
Animator: Hannah Roldan
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:
Hadeed, L. (2021). Why Women Stay: Understanding the Trauma Bond Between Victim and Abuser Case Studies Were Written. In Gender and Domestic Violence in the Caribbean (pp. 195-207). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Unthank, K. W. (2019). How self-blame empowers and disempowers survivors of interpersonal trauma: An intuitive inquiry. Qualitative Psychology, 6(3), 359.
Renn, P. (2006). Attachment, trauma and violence: understanding destructiveness from an attachment theory perspective. Aggression and Destructiveness: Psychoanalytic Perspectives. London: Routledge.
Ahmad, A., Aziz, M., Anjum, G., & Mir, F. V. (2018). Intimate partner violence and psychological distress: Mediating role of Stockholm syndrome. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 541-557.