Breadcrumbing is the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal social signals (i.e. "breadcrumbs") in order to lure a romantic partner in without expending much effort. In other words, it's leading someone on.
Breadcrumbing examples:
Being attentive and flirty in person but not making a move to hang out again. Sending memes via text or social media with no other communication. Texting frequently but not really getting to know each other. Making ambiguous plans with you that never seem to pan out.
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.
Tell the person what you expect, give them an ultimatum, or say you need better communication. Stop replying. Sometimes it is best to cut the cord. If someone is not treating you respectfully in a relationship, you have the right to end it.
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.
New Word Suggestion. a situation where someone you have dated suddenly sends you a message after a long period of time, then disappears again. "'Paperclipping' is the latest dating trend to be given an official name, following the likes of 'Kondo-ing', 'Masturdating' and 'Fishing'.
Stashing—sometimes referred to as pocketing—is when one person in a relationship makes the conscious decision to hide the other person from his or her inner circle, and yes, that includes both in real life and on social media. (Deep breaths.)
The Reasoning. According to Campbell, people engage in breadcrumbing "because their self-esteem is impacted by how much attention they can secure from others." Although the exact reasons for the behavior vary, there are a few psychological patterns she points to as to why people do it. They feel better about themselves ...
Simply be courteous and keep some physical distance between you two whenever you meet. Let him have his space but do let him know you miss him once in a while. Remind him of the fun things you did together before but not anymore. Communicate instead of giving the cold shoulder, hoping to send a message.
This type of behavior is unacceptable if you want to avoid hurting others' feelings. If you feel that a person is throwing breadcrumbs at you, it is best to delete them from your life by blocking all forms of communication and moving on with your life.
Deep down, many victims of breadcrumbing “know better,” aware that they are being led on and strung along. However, some may continue to stay in the relationship to avoid facing the painful truth that the breadcrumber really doesn't care about them.
Breadcrumbing is a type of emotional abuse since it involves control and manipulation. If someone truly loves you, they will come out straight instead of dropping breadcrumbs. Also, they will make you feel worthy, loved, and cared for.
Once you catch on that someone is breadcrumbing you, call them out on what they are doing.
Is a player likely to text you every day? Most players won't text you every day. Players typically don't invest a ton of time into chasing someone—they've got too many girls to go after. Also, a player will usually have enough confidence to ask you out relatively quickly.
Although a friend who only messages you when it's convenient for them or as a way to get you to do what they want is irritating and inconsiderate, some instances of breadcrumbing enter into the realm of emotional abuse and can present serious mental health challenges.
Orbiting in dating is when you cut off direct contact with the person you're dating but continue to engage with their content on social media. It's been dubbed “the new ghosting,” and, following an essay by Anna Iovine in 2018, gained more momentum in the pop-culture discourse.
Cookie-jarring is where you find yourself being left on the shelf as an option instead of the main choice. Relationships expert Annabelle Knight told Metro that cookie-jarring is: 'The act of leading someone to believe that the connection they share will lead to a relationship while knowing that it will not.
01. Benching. The act of putting someone on the bench because they may have done something you don't like or that has upset you—and keeping them on time out until further notice. If you've been benched you probably have seen a drop in activity, calls, texts, and overall interaction with no real explanation.
04/9Mooning
This one is rather hurtful where the person you're interested in or have been speaking with has slyly turned off notifications for your messages because they simply don't care about you anymore. This can very much happen even if they like you and intend to talk to you, later.