Continual Actions Demonstrating Problematic Behavior in Men:
In today's modern world, understanding and navigating toxic relationships has become increasingly important. A recent article by the National Domestic Hotline sheds light on a prevalent issue: the emotional dependency cultivated by deeply problematic men that makes it difficult for partners to leave toxic relationships, even when they recognise their toxic nature.
One of the tactics these men use is negging, a strategy that shifts responsibility away from themselves onto their partners. According to life coach Michelle Thompson, men who use negging are unwilling to feel their feelings and use it as a way to get their partners to handle those feelings for them. To respond to negging, Thompson suggests either explaining how the words made you feel or telling the person to leave you alone.
Deeply problematic men often employ various tactics to undermine their partners' self-esteem and emotional well-being. Some common habits include controlling and dominating behaviour, withholding emotional and physical intimacy as a form of abuse, suppressing vulnerability and emotional expression, and disrespecting and devaluing their partners.
Controlling behaviours and dominance can turn relationships into battlegrounds, damaging the partner's sense of autonomy and self-worth. Withholding affection, communication, or sexual intimacy is a destructive form of emotional abuse that invalidates the partner's feelings and can erode their self-esteem. Suppressing vulnerability and emotional openness can rob the relationship of authentic connection, leaving partners feeling emotionally neglected and unvalued. Disrespect, exclusion, and devaluation of the partner isolate them and damage their confidence and emotional well-being.
These behaviours stem from harmful societal expectations about masculinity that value power and control over empathy and openness. They contribute to cycles of emotional harm, lowering partners' self-esteem and emotional health by creating environments of fear, isolation, and invalidation in intimate relationships.
A 2023 study suggests that unhealthy relationships with problematic men can negatively impact self-esteem, emotional well-being, and sense of self. Manipulators often target individuals with low self-esteem or a strong desire for acceptance, making them more susceptible to manipulation and dependent on the manipulator's validation. The constant need for approval in a manipulated relationship can develop as a coping mechanism in a chaotic and unpredictable environment.
Negging is a strategy used by men to deliver backhanded compliments, which are insults disguised as compliments. Deeply problematic men make comparisons that make their partners feel never quite enough, and they give the bare minimum to keep their partners hanging on, only touching or teasing them occasionally and not allowing reciprocation. Deeply problematic men often train their partners to seek their approval subconsciously.
It's essential to maintain a zero-tolerance policy for this kind of behaviour, as it was not acceptable in the past and still is not acceptable today. If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, seeking support from a trusted friend, family member, or professional can help you navigate the situation and take steps towards a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.
- Recognizing the impact of toxic relationships on self-esteem, emotional well-being, and sense of self, it's crucial to understand tactics employed by deeply problematic men, such as negging.
- In relationships where a manipulator is involved, it's not uncommon for individuals with low self-esteem or a strong desire for acceptance to become more susceptible to manipulation, creating a dependency on the manipulator's validation.
- To combat negging, Thompson, a life coach, suggests either explaining how the words made you feel or asking the person to leave you alone, fostering a healthier and more authentic relationship dynamic.
- Navigating toxic relationships can involve battling controlling behaviors, emotional withholding as a form of abuse, suppression of vulnerability, disrespect, and devaluation of partners, all of which result from harmful societal expectations around masculinity.
- Personal growth and healthy relationship development can be facilitated through education and self-development, enabling individuals to identify and depart from toxic relationships, paving the way for love, dating, and family dynamics based on empathy, openness, and mutual respect.
