Lewis HowesYour Personal 24/7 Greatness Coach

Why Do People Stay In TOXIC Relationships

16 Nov 2025 · 0 min

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In this segment of Lewis Howes' YouTube conversation, the host asks why individuals remain in relationships after a partner begins consistently behaving poorly. The guest (Speaker B) identifies several psychological and relational factors: low self‑worth and the belief that they don’t deserve better; learned unhealthy relationship patterns from observing parents; attachment to an idealized version of the partner and the hope they will return to that “amazing” self; and a tendency to self‑blame, asking themselves what they did to cause the partner’s bad behavior. The exchange highlights how these internal narratives keep people trapped in toxic dynamics.

Why do people stay in a relationship once their partner starts consistently behaving poorly?
Self worth, not feeling like they deserve more, not understanding that that's actually not how you're supposed to be treated. Also, they saw maybe their parents in something unhealthy and they keep seeing in the person the potential of who they were. You know, this person was so amazing and now they're not. And so they're attached to that Low self esteem will have a person asking themselves, what did I do to bring this out in this person?
Blaming themselves.
Blaming themselves. Yeah.