Young Adults’ Perception of Breadcrumbing Victimization in Dating Relationships

Vivek Khattar (), Shreya Upadhyay and Raúl Navarro
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Vivek Khattar: Faculty of Education & Psychology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002, India
Shreya Upadhyay: Faculty of Education & Psychology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002, India
Raúl Navarro: Faculty of Education and Humanities, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 16071 Cuenca, Spain

Societies, 2023, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Breadcrumbing is an unexplored dating trend disguised in the form of subtle manipulation in relationships. With the increase in online dating apps, people have started to initiate, maintain and end relationships, and the use of manipulative tactics have increased on such platforms. The present study explores the meaning of breadcrumbing and its effects on the breadcrumbie’s mental health and wellbeing. Method: The research design was qualitative in nature through the use of focus group discussions. Two focus group discussions were conducted including nine participants in total (one male, eight females). Results: After the data analysis, five major themes emerged defining breadcrumbing—charm, leading on, incongruence, avoiding emotional investment and commitment uncertainty. Conversational fragments also revealed that breadcrumbing had an impact on the breadcrumbie’s future relationships, emotional disturbance, self-concept, and signs of depression. The red flags and effective coping strategies were also discovered with the help of a thematic analysis. Further research on personality correlates of breadcrumbing perpetration and victimization is recommended.

Keywords: breadcrumbing; manipulation; dating; emotional abuse; young adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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