Traumatic Attachment and Bonding In Toxic Relationships and Recovery Process: A Phenomenological Study

Romantic relationships in early adulthood, which should be a source of security, can become dangerous if marked by coercive control and violence. Previous research has emphasized mechanisms of violence and dependency, while the experiences of survivors across gender lines in Indonesia have rarely been explored. This study explores traumatic bonds, trauma bonds, and the recovery process. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was applied to semi-structured interviews, triangulated interviews, and field notes from two participants (a woman and a man) and their partners. Cross-case analysis reveals that the cycle of trauma bonds is maintained through intermittent reinforcement in the form of violence and affection for both participants, while the barriers to breaking free differ: vulnerability to the partner’s pleas in the case of the woman and a spiritual-symbiotic fear in the case of the man. Their paths to recovery differed, yet both aimed to restore decision-making autonomy and establish healthier relational boundaries. These findings underscore the importance of interventions focused on restoring a sense of safety and the ability to form healthy bonds. Future research should expand the participant pool to include individuals of various genders and cultural backgrounds, as well as explore subsequent stages of recovery.