A psychoanalytic study on the repetition and persistence of young and adult women in toxic heterosexual relationships

Abstract

This study seeks to shed light on the relational dynamics of toxic romantic attachments, analyzing the repetition and persistence of women in this context, understanding them not as a conscious choice, but as the manifestation of complex psychic processes. The study addresses the mechanics of how an individual may find themselves trapped in destructive cycles, experiencing the return of unprocessed experiences that manifest in relationships. The research, which uses a qualitative approach, employs a literature review as a methodology to deepen the understanding of the subject. Grounded in psychoanalysis, it explores concepts such as Freud's Compulsion to Repeat and Lacan's theory of Lack in the constitution of the subject. The analysis seeks to explore how the idealization of the romantic object and the pursuit of repairing childhood affective experiences intersect with sociocultural constructions that teach love as being about sacrifice and tolerance. The results attest that the repetitive and enduring dynamics are the result of a tangle of unconscious mechanisms, ingrained beliefs, and internalized social norms. In short, by investigating the psychic roots and patterns of dysfunctional behaviors, the work contributes to the understanding of how the mind, even rooted in these cycles, can create new pathways for more conscious and healthy choices.