Ghosts Of Romantic Pasts Are So Tough To Exorcise For Some
A friend once grumbled that, given the choice, she’d rather see her ex miserable than herself happy.
Few things in life are as traumatic as the end of a long-term, romantic relationship. Nonetheless, many people are able to eventually recover and move on relatively unscathed.
Others, like my friend, aren’t so lucky. Even years later, they remain mired in the pain of the experience. Any reminder of their former partner – whether it’s a casual mention in conversation or a Facebook photo – can elicit profound feelings of sadness, anger and resentment.
Why is it that some people continue to be haunted by the ghosts of their romantic pasts, struggling to let go of the pain of rejection?
In new research, my colleague Carol Dweck and I found that rejection actually makes some people redefine them...