Emotional Bond Reflected In Donny’s Character In Baby Reindeer Movie
Main Article Content
Na’ilah Farashifah
Hariyono
Rindrah Kartiningsih
This study analyzes the representation of emotional bond in Baby Reindeer movie, focusing on Donny’s emotional attachment to his abuser. Emotional bond refers to a strong psychological connection that develops between individuals through repeated emotional interaction, vulnerability, and dependency. Using a qualitative descriptive method, this research examines selected dialogues and scenes to identify patterns of emotional dependency, empathy toward the abuser, cognitive conflict, and self-blame. The findings show that Donny’s attachment is not rooted in genuine affection, but in fear, vulnerability, and the need for validation. The series portrays emotional bonding as a complex psychological condition that keeps individuals connected to harmful relationships even without physical captivity. This study highlights how contemporary media represents emotional entanglement and the psychological impact of abusive dynamics.
Aggarwal, P., & Singh, R. (2024). Emotional attachment as a fundamental human need: Psychological perspectives on closeness and connection. Journal of Social and Behavioral Studies, 12(1), 45–58.
Al-Janaby, H., & AlHusseini, S. (2024). Emotional dependency in toxic relationships: A psychological analysis. International Journal of Psychology and Counseling, 16(2), 112–125.
Baker, C. K., & Carreno, P. K. (2020). Understanding the role of emotional attachment in abusive relationships. Journal of Family Violence, 35(6), 567–579.
Dorey, G. (2022). Trauma bonding and emotional attachment in coercive relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(15–16), NP13560–NP13578.
Karakurt, G., & Silver, K. E. (2020). Emotional abuse in intimate relationships: The role of attachment and dependency. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 53, 101428.
Kackar, A., & Juneja, A. (2022). Psychology in pathology: Stockholm syndrome and emotional bonding. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 9(4), 229–235.
Lahav, Y., & Elklit, A. (2020). Psychological distress and emotional attachment in abusive dynamics. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1700623.
Mengo, C., Brown, N., & Black, B. (2022). Patterns of emotional manipulation and relational attachment in abusive dynamics. Journal of Family Violence, 37(4), 567–580.
Sidiropoulou, E. (2024). Emotional dependency and relational instability in contemporary intimate relationships. Journal of Social Psychology Research, 18(1), 33–49.
Singh, S. (2022). Stockholm syndrome: A psychiatric diagnosis or myth in modern psychology? International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 6(3), 1450–1455.
Tirone, V., & Pedersen, S. (2021). Attachment insecurity and emotional dependency in toxic romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(9), 2601–2620.
Wahyuningrat, W., Pratama, R., & Lestari, D. (2025). Emotional manipulation in contemporary television narratives. Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, 14(1), 78–91.
Woodlock, D., McKenzie, M., Western, D., & Harris, B. (2020). Technology-facilitated abuse and emotional control in intimate relationships. Violence Against Women, 26(3–4), 371–389.
Yamawaki, N., Ochoa-Shipp, M., Pulsipher, C., Harlos, A., & Swindler, S. (2021). Perceptions of emotional abuse and attachment patterns. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(5–6), 2345–2364.
Zapor, H., & Stuart, G. L. (2023). Emotional attachment and psychological vulnerability in abusive romantic relationships. Psychology of Violence, 13(4), 421–432.













