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10 Surest Signs To Know Your Boyfriend Is Overprotective And Dominating
By: Priyanka Maheshwari Wed, 09 Aug 2023 4:51:47
Could a boyfriend's excessive protectiveness and affection stem from genuine love and concern for you? However, should this affection justify his attempts to manipulate and control you?
The distinction between caring protectiveness and domineering overprotectiveness is quite delicate. Often, these two traits tend to intertwine, and dominance frequently accompanies an overprotective attitude.
When someone exhibits overprotective tendencies, it often indicates a high likelihood of also possessing controlling and dominating behaviors. These behaviors might not be evident to the individual, and they might not always be openly confrontational.
Instead, subtle manipulation tactics could be employed, leading you to internalize guilt for your actions until you're gradually convinced of his righteousness and your continual wrongness.Not all boyfriends or husbands have the intentional aim of exerting dominance over their partners. It could initiate with timid pleas and immature accusations. However, over time, as you continually yield due to your affection for your partner, it could evolve into a struggle for control.
Occasionally, a dominating partner might resort to using coercion to maintain control. Yet, when such a dominating individual recognizes your persistent resistance against their authority, they might momentarily step back, only to subtly manipulate you when you least anticipate it.
Indeed, a possessive and domineering partner doesn't necessarily resort to force to establish control and foster the belief that their actions stem from a protective instinct. Their strategy could involve identifying opportune moments to express words that sow seeds of self-doubt within you.
# He’s snoopy
He listens in on your discussions with friends, whether you're engaged in phone calls, text messaging, or perusing your emails.
On occasion, you might even discover him examining your phone's records of calls made. In other instances, he might approach you with your phone bill, inquiring about the reasons behind frequent calls to a specific friend.
# Everyone likes you
Whenever you engage in conversation with a male acquaintance or react positively to their jokes, your boyfriend promptly alleges that you're flirting with them or fostering their flirtatious advances.
Persistently, he asserts that any guy you interact with harbors a romantic interest in you or is simply being friendly due to your perceived attractiveness.
Moreover, if a random guy unexpectedly makes advances or approaches you for a date, your boyfriend triumphantly remarks with an "I told you so!" tone, as if you were somehow responsible for the situation.
# Your own life
Your partner strongly disapproves of your desire to engage in independent activities. He acts as if he bears a moral duty to supervise every action you take, all in the name of "ensuring your safety," of course. His utmost contentment seems to arise from the centering of your life around him and his own endeavors.
# He’s one step ahead
Another indicator that your boyfriend is overly protective is his propensity to be a step ahead of you. Even in the early stages of dating, he assumes the role of a boyfriend, and as your relationship progresses to the boyfriend stage, he endeavors to emulate the attributes of a husband.
He consistently appears to be ahead in terms of commitment, particularly if he observes that you maintain numerous male friendships.
# Beck and call
Your presence must be at his disposal, regardless of whether you're socializing with friends or seeking some personal time.
Even during instances like a dinner gathering with friends or engaging in meaningful discussions, he anticipates your immediate response to his calls, demanding your attention for however long he desires. If his expectations are unmet, he tends to display frustration or employs the silent treatment as a means of expressing his discontent.
# Jealousy
His jealousy knows no bounds, regardless of the extent to which you demonstrate your affection for him. Continuously, he insists that you mistreat him or casts doubt on your love, suggesting that he feels your affection falls short of the depth of his own for you.
# He scares you
The greater your concurrence with his views or your tendency to distance yourself from others in order to enhance his sense of security and affection in the relationship, the more content he becomes.
You might not have recognized this dynamic, but the more you experience unease or discomfort in social situations, the more he perceives a heightened sense of ease and contentment in the relationship.
# Big talk
Your partner despises it when you praise others. He develops a strong aversion to anyone who appears to hold a significant place on your list of admirable individuals, and he consistently endeavors to find imperfections in those you hold in high regard, all in an effort to persuade you that they aren't as exceptional as you believe.
# Opposing views
A controlling boyfriend would exhibit discomfort when you challenge his perspectives or express a desire to engage in activities that contradict his preferences.
Rather than embracing the diversity of opinions, he would exert pressure to make you adopt his stance, framing his viewpoint as correct and yours as incorrect.
# The helping hand
He anticipates your immediate approach whenever you encounter a problem, regardless of whether he possesses the ability to provide assistance.
He desires you to regard him as the sole source of aid for all matters, and he becomes perturbed if you seek assistance from others or tackle situations independently.
In effect, he is subtly attempting to foster your reliance on him, enabling him to shape you into the idealized version of a girlfriend he has constructed in his mind.