Kanisa George

So your relationship has come to an end. You're emotionally distraught, heartbroken or maybe relieved and excited to start anew. Whatever you feel at the end of a failed romantic pursuit, the most obvious question to consider is: what next?

Emotionally unpacking the baggage of a previous relationship, followed by focused recalibration, shapes our perspective and empowers us to chart the way forward. As uncomfortable as it can be, this approach might be the perfect starting point, as it allows us to refocus and start afresh in a neutral position.

It is, however, only sometimes a welcomed concept. Try as we might, processing our emotions after the end of a relationship is hard work, and naturally, we are desperate for something that makes us feel good. Moreover, the obvious void we experience, particularly the lack of human interaction brought on by a relationship's demise, can sometimes spark a great desire to fill it. And how else is that achieved other than by engaging in social interactions that satisfy those needs?

On the heels of one relationship ending, we dive feelings-first into a new relationship without fully addressing the issues of the past break-up. Instead, what we do in some cases is bounce back or rebound from the previous fallout. According to researchers, a rebound partner is usually considered a transitional mate or a stepping stone on the way to a more legitimate relationship.

The rebound relationship model is an almost expected reality in the relationship context, as it provides exactly what we are starved of when a relationship ends. In some cases, a rebound relationship offers a mechanism through which the suffering party can potentially have their emotional, social and physical needs met.

Relationship dissolution is often one of the most distressing events an individual can experience (Frazier & Hurliman, 2001) and is typically upsetting even for the initiator. Yet, when this happens, we desperately search for ways to feel whole again, and a new relationship can be a useful mechanism.

Dr Jenn Mann views a rebound relationship as a reactionary relationship inspired by the unhealed wounds of a previous one. Unfortunately, these romantic relationships are usually tainted by unresolved issues, pain, and grief from one or more previous romantic liaison.

As popular as this dating model is, it might astonish you that the vast majority of people find themselves entangled in rebound relationships unconsciously. Notwithstanding those who intentionally approach a rebound affair, the undeniable need to experience human connection is the driving force behind this endeavour.

People use rebound relationships as a coping strategy or to distract themselves from painful feelings and essentially acts as a way to divert attention from these negative emotions.

This is especially common among people who have been in long-term relationships or have been blind-sighted by the relationship's demise. The trauma and anguish in the aftermath of a break-up can