Often men who have been emotionally neglected and abused as children by dominating mothers bond with assertive women, only to have their childhood feelings of being engulfed surface. While they could not 'smash their mommy' and still receive love, they find that they can engage in intimate violence with partners who respond to their acting out by trying harder to connect with them emotionally, hoping that the love offered in the present will heal the wounds of the past. If only one party in the relationship is working to create love, to create the space of emotional connection, the dominator model remains in place and the relationship just becomes a site for continuous power struggle. Bell Hooks
About This Quote

If you feel that you have been emotionally abused and neglected by your mother, then perhaps you should be in a relationship with someone who is assertive and willing to show you love and affection. That way, you can get the love and attention that you need without the constant struggle of trying to hold on to your abusive mother’s affections.

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