Eric exhibited more possessive, controlling behaviors around women and he only managed casual dates. He’d page girls constantly or call their home persistently until he got a hold of the girl. Had he actually managed to move to a serious boyfriend/girlfriend stage, his calling and checking up on his girlfriend would’ve been incessant to the point of annoying, calling her exactly at certain times of the day. If she’s was not where she normally is at that specific time of the day he’d punctually call her, it’d drive him fucking nuts so he’d compulsively feel the need to take action to control the situation: he’d page her until he got a hold of her or contact her parents to monitor her whereabouts. It wouldn’t just be that though because he’d be physically possessive in a demonstrative way. Now, you might imagine in your mind that that’s a desirable, flattering thing for a girl to be lucky to have that – that is, until it becomes claustrophobic and infringing on your own personal freedom. Eric would have his arm around his girl in public and if it wasn’t, he’d make sure to drape it around her or hook into her some way to make it clear to other dudes that was laying his claim on her even when in reality she was merely talking to a guy she knew in class about notes for homework. His insecurity issues would be transparent as he’d be rude, temperamental and openly jealous, accusing her of spending to much time talking to, flirting with, someone he didn’t like at all. He’d take it as a persona affront that she was casually associating with someone he considered against him. He’d attempt to manipulate which friends were ok to keep and at his absolute worst, yes, he might actually stoop to commenting that her skirt was too short. He’d also be clingy too in the way that he’d unload his problems on to his girlfriend using her almost like a therapist to air his complaints about certain people, how someone had hurt him or made him angry. Overtime in the relationship, he’d feel more intimate and co-dependent on his girlfriend because of how much of a confidant she became and how much he relied on her to be over problems and whether she asked to hear about it or not. She’d be listening to his every grudge, angry upset or slight that hurt him and probably often in connection to friend of a friend she knew. And because he laid himself bare to her more than anyone else, he’d feel stripped and vulnerable in her company and so he would be literally clingy with her. He’d be overly physically demonstrative and after the sex, he might even be reduced to being quiet and attached to her in a child-like ‘I’m never letting go’ sort of way afterward. The bonding wouldn’t always be one to strength the two of them but something that laid him bear more of his vulnerability that he spent so much time trying to conceal with toughness. It would up-end him and he’d feel like it’d be important to not lose her at all cost. He’d need reassurance from her constantly that she’d love only him and that they need to stay together. He’d need to guard her and assert his will over her because to compensate for how really insecure and out of control he felt about himself. The vulnerability in the relationship would amplify those damaged inner feelings. I do think a lot of these issues stem with his relationship with his mother. That he feels girls he dates seem to represent a kind of confidant or counselor for him almost like they’re assumed a kind of kindly maternal figure that should automatically be there to listen to his every problem, to nurture and assuage his sense that everything in his life is unjust.
Dylan would not have that intense level of need to control his girlfriend. He’d allow her space, he’d respect her individuality and how she spent her time. He would be more laid back and easy going without the need to control her every move. Sure, of course, like any dude, he might get a twinge of jealousy when he saw her talking to another guy in the hall casually that she knew from class, but he wouldn’t dwell on it or distort it into something more questionable than it actually was. He’d give her the time she needed if she told him she needed time apart. Hell, there was plenty of times when Dylan needed to be a part himself in his bedroom ‘man cave’ and just be by himself to reflect and think things over. He’d need to decompress alone but then would have more to give her when the phone rang and she called to tell him she’d missed him. Yes, of course Dylan would need to feel reassurance and a strong sense that she loved and cared for him but he’d also not want to crowd her out and be overbearing with his own needs. She would be spending more time with him trying to get him to confess what was on his mind and what was bothering him. He’d keep a reign on his own problems because he wouldn’t want to be a bother to her. He’d realize too if he was infringing on her happiness, he’d own responsibility, probably far more than he should, in any thing that upset her. He would hate to see her upset; it’d hurt him. Her upset was his own and was an imbalance that would bother him enough to want to correct anything that was not working. Physically, he’d need to be close and as I’ve said before cuddling would be an important way for him deepen the connection and bond, a way to tune into his girl. But it would also be something positive and nourishing so that when they both pulled away from each other, they’d be more productive while being apart on their own doing separate things. But Dylan wouldn’t be paging her multiple times until he could hook his radar into where she was and what she was doing so that he could dispel creeping jealousy. Sure, he’d have his problems of trying to minimize that nothing was wrong until things reached critical mass and an explosion would occur between them. Yes, sure, he’d reach excruciatingly personal moments of confessions about deeply personal things that bothered him and made him actually cry in front of his girl but he’d release all of that with a deep, long hug between the two of them and then they would move on with their day together or apart. She’d be off on a weekend trip with her friends and he’d call her when she was coming back in town so he could be sure to be there and pick her up. He’d be okay letting her do her thing and he’d trust that things could be trusted between the two of them. His love for her and her love for him would be founded on assumed mutual trust.