The Deceptive Influence of Relationship Pop Psychology on Social Media

Psychologist Dr. Sarah Hensley challenges the popular relationship advice of "if they wanted to, they would," calling it a generic pop psychology lie. She explains that a large majority of the population has a dismissive avoidant attachment style, which triggers trauma responses of fleeing and freezing when faced with emotional intimacy or conflict. Dr. Hensley emphasizes that these responses are not a matter of choice but a capacity issue rooted in childhood attachment experiences. She highlights the importance of healing trauma responses and developing healthy coping skills to show up authentically in relationships. Understanding our wounds allows us to work on ourselves and build emotional toolsets for healthier connections.