Attachment insecurity, characterized by fear of abandonment, can lead to progressive compromises of self to prevent a partner from leaving.

“And somewhere inside of them, they've learned that if they're more pleasing, if they give up little parts of themselves, that person won't leave, right?”

“So I say that because there's such a contrast between that kind of attachment insecurity, which can involve over control, and the kind of attachment insecurity that can involve compromise of the self.”