THE "FORTUNATA SYNDROME": A FORM OF EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY

Abstract

This paper presents information about a form of emotional dependency, for which the term "Fortunata syndrome" has been coined, designating a type of affective relationship that some women develop repeatedly with married men. Several patterns of behaviour and repeated attitudes can be identified in this syndrome, such us the strong and lasting emotional dependency and loyalty to the man, the ambivalence of feelings towards the official partner (resentment due to the belief that she has taken something that belongs to them, but also the desire to be her, to imitate her or even to get along with her), the questioning of the validity of the union of man with the other woman and repeated fantasies that their circumstances will change and they will end up together. In addition to defining and illustrating these relationships, their idiosyncrasies and their differences with regards to other situations with which they could be confused, we hypothesise some possible causes of this form of emotional dependence and we present several strategies to help women who wish to put an end to this form of affective linkage.

Keywords

• Extramarital intercourse
• Male female relations
• Psychotherapeutic techniques
• Marriage
• Single persons.