Love bombing is a psychological manipulation tactic where someone overwhelms another person with excessive affection, attention, praise, gifts, or promises early in a relationship in order to gain control or influence over them.
Key Characteristics:
Intense flattery and compliments
Lavish gifts or gestures
Constant communication (texts, calls, messages)
Pushing for quick commitment or declarations of love
Creating a sense of dependency or obligation
Where It’s Common:
Narcissistic relationships: Often used by narcissists to idealize their targets before devaluing and discarding them.
Cult recruitment: To create loyalty and dependency on the group or leader.
Abusive dynamics: As part of a cycle of abuse — idealization, devaluation, and discard.
Why It’s Harmful:
Initially, love bombing can feel flattering and exciting, but over time it’s often followed by emotional withdrawal, manipulation, or control. It can lead the victim to doubt their own perceptions, become isolated, or feel trapped in an unhealthy relationship.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 