A rebound relationship is a new romantic partner initiated shortly after a breakup, before having processed the grief. Brumbaugh and Fraley (2015) found that, contrary to myth, rebound relationships are not necessarily destructive, but tend to have more fragile foundations if the person has not had time to process the previous loss.
Concept origin
Brumbaugh CC, Fraley RC. (2015). Too fast, too soon? An empirical investigation of rebound relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32(1), 99-118. doi:10.1177/0265407514525084
How it manifests
- ▸ Constant search for external validation
- ▸ Continuous comparison with ex-partner
- ▸ Rapid idealization of new partner
Therapeutic approach
CBT works on pattern awareness. Schema therapy helps identify if the search is guided by loneliness or unresolved emotional dependencies. Conscious pause (a few weeks of not-searching) can be therapeutic.
Related concepts
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