Returning to old partners may guarantee an esteem boost. It’s important to remember that people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) tend to have inflated self-views, which are inextricably linked to sources of external validation.

“To suggest that trauma is required to appreciate love shows a fundamental and toxic misunderstanding of what trauma is and [its] long-term effects,” Ariella Grosse, LMSW, explains.

Is it ever helpful to test your partner’s loyalty by trying to make them jealous? Experts say probably not. “Testing’ your partner is likely a sign of an anxious attachment style,” Ariella Grosse, LMSW, tells Elite Daily.

Ariella Grosse, LMSW, explains why the “Mastermind” agenda can be so appealing. “This can feel like a safe way for people who typically aren’t as forward to establish contact or ‘plant the seed’ in a potential partner’s head,” she explains.

According to Ariella Grosse, LMSW, victims of this kind of abuse can experience “low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse.”