Published 2025-12-19
Keywords
- Pathological love, Dependence, Emotional fragility.
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2025 Viviana Catania
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Abstract
What is emotional dependency, and when does love become toxic?
Emotional dependence is a form of substance-free addiction, or new addiction, where the object of the addiction is no longer the substance, but an illicit behavior or activity, such as gambling, internet addiction, emotional or sexual addiction, compulsive shopping, etc.
Emotional dependence is the extreme emotional need that a person feels for their partner, who becomes the dependent person’s only source of support and security. Necessity, insecurity, submission, and the need for the other become the elements of a dependent relationship. Emotional dependence can be described as an excessive and maladaptive form of love, in which desire becomes an unceasing need for the other, leading to the loss of personal autonomy, emotional stability, and overall well-being.
Emotional dependence particularly affects women, as they are likely more attentive to the needs of others and more willing to explore the relational framework.
According to the latest data published in the literature, the prevalence of pathological love varies from 3 to 10% but is likely higher in specific populations (for example, in 25% of university students).
In a relationship, one seeks sincere feelings and a secure foundation, building an interdependent relationship over the years. Emotional dependence, on the other hand, represents a unilateral subjugation that causes discomfort and suffering, fueling a profound state of anxiety and insecurity, and also generating a constant need for the presence and validation of the other.
To love too much means to vanish into the other, to define oneself only within a bond, which becomes binding and necessary for survival.
This is a narrative review of the existing literature on emotional dependence. It will also clarify the differences between healthy and pathological love and examine the motivations that lead individuals to emotional dependence.
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