From love bombing to gaslighting, dating a narcissist often follows a predictable arc of manipulation and pain. And “monkey branching” is one of its most destabilizing turns.
“Monkey branching refers to lining up a new relationship before fully leaving the current one,” said Tina Swithin, author of “Divorcing a Narcissist: One Mom’s Battle.” “This behavior reflects a consistent and recognizable pattern. The narcissist moves from one relationship to another, similar to how a monkey swings from one branch to the next.”
Also known as monkey barring, this strategic maneuver allows someone to actively secure a new romantic attachment while maintaining their present relationship.
“While it isn’t a formal clinical diagnosis, this behavior is a hallmark of narcissistic relationship patterns,” said Marie-Line Germain, author of “Narcissism at Work: Personality Disorders of Corporate Leaders” and a professor of human resources and leadership at Western Carolina University.
She noted that monkey branching can involve flirting, sexting and/or cultivating secret emotional bonds ― and deceptively dismissing the situation as “just friends” if their partner inquires.
