The basic question is how can an adult truly love himself or herself if they are dependent on another adult either economically or emotionally? It’s normal for a child to be dependent on their parents for both of these needs. If an adult finds himself or herself in a dependent relationship, their self-worth will be compromised.

Many of the ideas popularized at the time, and that are to a large degree still popular today, purported the concept that dependency is to be discouraged (re: co-dependency) while self-sufficiency is to be congratulated and encouraged. These ideas contradict some basic principles of how our social brain is wired – and specifically that we are