It can cause psychological harm by creating feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and anxiety. Breadcrumbing can also be a sign of narcissistic behavior as the person doing it may enjoy the power they have over their partner's emotions.
This behavior can make you feel hopeful but then confused and hurt. Breadcrumbing can be a typical behavior of narcissists and other toxic people. Breadcrumbing is usually done through a low-effort text or direct message.
Narcissists breadcrumb you to get you hooked and to be in control. Sometimes narcissists breadcrumb you to keep you as an option as well. Breadcrumbing itself isn't always narcissistic, but it does seem to be especially common with narcissists.
Breadcrumbing is when a person gives you enough attention to "string you along" or makes you think they are interested in you. They will pop into your life and then disappear just as quickly. This behavior can make you feel hopeful but then confused and hurt.
Picking up on breadcrumbing can be hard because it is a manipulation tactic, so the effects of it typically involve questioning realities (think gaslighting), including whether or not you're worthy of attention, and whether or not the person in question actually cares about you.
Breadcrumbing, like ghosting and other forms of digital dating violence, is a form of emotional abuse. The victim is treated without respect or consideration for their feelings, which undermines the victim's self-worth and confidence.
What happens when you ignore a breadcrumber? The moment you start ignoring a breadcrumber, you stop feeding their ego. Eventually, they will get the message and move on.
Someone may breadcrumb because they want a genuine relationship. But once the other person starts getting close to them, they withdraw. This pattern isn't usually conscious, but someone with an avoidant attachment style engages in it because it feels familiar, and allows them to keep their defenses up.
The Red Flags
"They might even go absent for periods of time." You never know where you stand with them. According to Campbell, breadcrumbers "are sporadic, inconsistent, and unpredictable in their expression of interest" in you. They seem warm toward you but then turn cold.
In fact, it's likely done as a method of self-defense. “When they deliver breadcrumbs, it is often because they are withdrawing from intimacy or intensity that has left them feeling vulnerable,” she notes.
It can be difficult to break free from being breadcrumbed because you would have the impression that they want you. However, be careful not to be taken in by their tricks because if you finally have something serious to do with them, the relationship can become toxic.
One way to effectively communicate your feelings to a breadcrumber is to say something like: “I feel frustrated and start to spiral when I don't hear from you for several days, especially when I know that you've read my messages.
Breadcrumbing is a term for stringing someone along with small nuggets of communication—but never fully committing to a relationship. Today those crumbs of communication tend to occur online. The person may respond to an Instagram story, like a Facebook photo, or text a funny meme.
By confronting the breadcrumber, you're showing that you're smarter than they might have expected. You're effectively removing the attention they need to thrive. The second way to fight a breadcrumber is by simply ignoring them. Essentially, you're ghosting the breadcrumber — the same thing they've been doing to you.
Breadcrumbing behavior can exist in ongoing relationships and even marriage. A lack of consistency or commitment in an intimate relationship can leave you feeling conditionally cared for and strung along. You may have even become dependent on the little emotional morsels they throw your way.
Breadcrumbing can lead to hurt feelings and sleepless nights. Still, it's not as directly manipulative as gaslighting, which alienates the victim from friends and themselves with the intent to control.
Breadcrumbing means someone sends flirty or suggestive messages to keep someone interested, even though they don't want a real relationship. Narcissists do this to feel good about themselves and control the situation, while keeping their options open.
Breadcrumbing happens when someone gives you just enough time and attention to keep you interested. But breadcrumbers don't want to commit — instead, they manipulate you so that you're left wanting more. Responding inconsistently and not following up about plans are clear signs of breadcrumbing.
We do not owe them an explanation, nor do we owe them a conversation. We can simply choose not to participate in the other person's game. This is why, to bring it back to the original question, you should just ignore a breadcrumber. They know the game.