The White Knight Syndrome
Rescuing Yourself From Your Need to Rescue Others
Marilyn J Krieger Ph.D., Mary C. Lamia Ph.D.
There are many temptations to organize our life around the experience of earlier trauma. But that may short-change the future—which starts by our envisioning something better.
Verified by Psychology Today
Rescuing Yourself From Your Need to Rescue Others
Marilyn J Krieger Ph.D., Mary C. Lamia Ph.D.
Marilyn J. Krieger, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in Marin County, CA.
White knights are men and women who enter into romantic relationships with damaged and vulnerable partners, hoping that love will transform their partner's behavior or life. Though most white knights feel that they are selfless and sacrificing, their rescuing behavior is often misguided. Problems arise when white knights care for their partners at the expense of their own needs, encounter destructive behavior, or try to control their partners. The White Knight Syndrome explains the origins of this behavior, presents 3 white knight subtypes, and explores the concept of balanced rescuing.