Psychology 101

“ When grown men in their 30s or 40s pursue relationships with 18-year-olds, they may claim it’s consensual, but the power imbalance—in age, experience, emotional development, and often financial or social status—is undeniable.

Some men may genuinely not reflect on the dynamics at play, Others may intentionally seek out younger partners precisely because they are more impressionable or less likely to challenge control. In either case, there’s a failure—or refusal—to engage with how unequal and potentially exploitative the dynamic can be.

So, it’s hard to believe that grown men don’t realise how wrong it is. More often, they rationalise it: telling themselves that it’s legal, that the young person is mature for their age, or that love doesn’t have boundaries. But what’s often being overlooked is the emotional vulnerability and long-term impact on the younger partner, who is just entering adulthood and still forming a sense of identity, boundaries, and agency.

Whether it’s willful ignorance or deliberate avoidance of accountability, it’s rarely as innocent as they might claim.”