Asking for a friend: 'My partner refuses to back down or compromise when we argue and it's making me feel hurt and frustrated. Is this normal behaviour - am I overreacting?

"Q: I've been dating this guy for a couple of months now, and it's mostly going great. However, whenever we have a disagreement or an argument, it goes pear-shaped. It seems like he just says the opposite of what I say just to wind me up, and he refuses to back down or compromise. Sometimes it happens in bigger conversations like politics, but often it's smaller things and I don't know why he finds them to be such a big deal. I'm left feeling frustrated and hurt."

"To be blunt, I would say that this is not only a major red flag, but a justification for ending things. All those actions you described are red flags by themselves - refusing to compromise, taking an opposing view just to annoy you, and refusing to see a disagreement as a calm, normal event."

A person experiences recurring arguments where the partner deliberately contradicts and refuses to compromise, turning small issues into major conflicts. The partner often opposes statements to provoke and dismisses concerns with comments like "it's no big deal," leaving the other person frustrated and hurt. The person feels inexperienced and unsure how to respond, typically conceding or changing the subject without resolution. Persistent refusal to negotiate, intentional provocation, and minimization of emotional responses erode trust and emotional safety. Such behavioral patterns represent serious warning signs that can justify ending the relationship.

Read at Independent