Love Bombing
Overwhelming someone with excessive affection, attention, and gifts early in a relationship to gain control. Often associated with narcissistic personality patterns.
Love bombing is a manipulation tactic where someone showers you with intense attention, compliments, and grand gestures at the start of a relationship — not out of genuine love, but to create emotional dependency.
Signs: constant texting/calling, saying "I love you" very early, lavish gifts, making you the center of their world, pushing for commitment before you're ready, and getting upset when you have boundaries.
The pattern: Love Bomb → Establish Dependency → Devalue (criticism, withdrawal) → Hoover (love bomb again when you try to leave). People with anxious attachment and high Agreeableness (people-pleasers) are most vulnerable. Understanding your attachment style and Big Five profile helps you recognize this pattern early.
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