Breadcrumbing can occur in familial relationships, friendships, and the workplace, but it is more prevalent in romantic contexts, particularly with the surge of online dating.
Johnson's model posits that individuals feel morally obliged to maintain and commit to a relationship,[7] something that has yet to be applied to breadcrumbing.
Individuals high on Machiavellianism see other people as dishonest and gullible, leading to them justifying manipulation and taking advantage of others,[9][10] for example through breadcrumbing.
These insecure attachment styles in adults are suggested to be caused in part by negative caregiving experiences during childhood, such as having a parent with depression.
However, the correlation between attachment styles and caregiving experience is small and exceptions have been discovered, suggesting that other factors such as genetics play a part.
[14] Although insecure attachment styles are linked to poor mental health[15] and negative behaviors such as breadcrumbing, it is suggested that they once had had evolutionary benefits.
[1] As breadcrumbing is persistent and communication does not completely end, unlike with ghosting, it can be more painful for breadcrumbees and prolong the amount of time it takes to emotionally recover.
Social support has been shown to reduce the effects of stress on depression and anxiety,[20][21] preventing feelings of isolation,[5] and has been associated with increased happiness.