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Trauma Bonding
A psychological attachment formed when someone experiences cycles of kindness, affection, fear, control, or dependency — making it extremely hard to recognise abuse or leave the situation.
This information is not legal advice – it is meant to signpost information only. Please seek a professional opinion before taking action.
Legal definition
While not a legal term, trauma bonding is widely recognised in psychology, safeguarding, and exploitation literature as a key dynamic in grooming, coercive control, and trafficking.
What it looks like in real life
Survivors staying in contact with an abuser or returning to a location even after harm.
Feeling loyal to or protective of the person hurting them.
Confusion, self-blame, or believing the abuser “cared” or “protected” them.
Years passing before the survivor recognises the behaviour as abuse.
Survivors for Survivors
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