“Hey, being with you is my favorite thing.”
“But it’s the third day of the picnic, and you haven’t even spent ten minutes with me yet!”
“Well… I came to this picnic only because she invited me, didn’t I?”
Breadcrumbing refers to manipulative behavior in which a person gives just enough attention, affection, and encouragement to keep someone interested without genuinely committing to a relationship. The term comes from the story of two children who scattered breadcrumbs to find their way home. Here, too, a person drops small crumbs of affection to prevent the other from completely losing interest. While most common in romantic relationships, breadcrumbing can also be seen in friendships and workplaces.