Online Reference For Body, Mind & Spirit

Term: Cinderella Complex

DEFINITION:

First described by Colette Dowling in her book by this name, it presents the thesis that some women have a fear of independence and an unconscious desire for someone (a metaphorical "Prince Charming") to take care of them. Dowling claims that this "complex" becomes increasingly obvious as women age and is a major cause of women choosing to stay in a dysfunctional or even abusive relationship.