166. Fantasy bonding - is it love or delusion?

Sometimes we become more attached to the idea of someone and their potential, than the reality of who they actually are. We begin to project our wants and desires on to them and ignore the red flags, the disappointments, the truth. This is what we call fantasy bonding and it prevents us from seeing someone for who they truly are, causes us to be lead along and invest in the wrong people. In this episode, we break down the psychology of fantasy bonding, including:

The origins of fantasy bonding in childhood How a fantasy bond emerges Relationship intensity and attachment Why our fear of loneliness drives us into the wrong relationships The idealisation of our partners What happens when the fantasy fades How to avoid a fantasy bond

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A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now. 

 

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• No. of episodes: 308
• Latest episode: 2025-06-26
• Health & Fitness Mental Health

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