Beware of ‘monkey-barring’ in romantic relationships

To protect yourself from the love trap of monkey-barring, communicate directly with your partner if you have any doubts. Photo: AFP

Monkey-barring is a new term that’s emerging in the world of dating and relationships. This curious expression, inspired by the way monkeys swing from branch to branch, refers to having one relationship on the go while exploring another. This potentially unhealthy behaviour may be motivated by a fear of being single.

In the complex world of dating, new terms are constantly emerging to describe behaviour that is often toxic. The latest in line is monkey-barring, referring directly to the way monkeys swing from branch to branch (or the way you might swing from bar to bar at the playground) only letting go once they’ve caught onto the next one.