Unfortunately, the list of toxic practices in romantic relationships only grows longer. After the ghosts with the ghosting, the cockroaches with the roaching, here comes the sign with the monkey-barring. But what is it exactly? This is a new bad trend in the field of love. The concept is to have one foot in one relationship and one foot in another relationship. Generally, it is people who fear celibacy who indulge in this far from flattering practice.
“If you’re not sure whether a relationship is right for you, it can be tempting to explore another one, while keeping the current relationship afloat before taking the plunge,” says Hayley Quinn, expert in dating, at Metro UK. Why the monkey exactly? Here, the name comes from the fact that the monkeys are used to jumping easily from tree to tree. Of course, they must cling to the branch of the previous tree to move on to that of the next tree. “A lot of people cling to a relationship that isn’t right for them because the thought of going back to square one is too scary,” says Hayley Quinn.
Monkey-barring: tips for getting out of it
It goes without saying that this trend is not going to bring anything good. Even if nothing has been formalized, the dishonesty and the unhealthy side of monkey-barring is very real. “Starting to see other people quietly means you’re not fully emotionally open to your existing relationship, or the idea of committing to this one,” says Hayley Quinn. “Do not hesitate to explicitly formulate your expectations regarding the relationship and never forget your personal value,” advises the expert.
Couples: what is monkey-barring, this toxic love practice of those who are afraid of celibacy? © Pexels
