The Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS): SIVHs as an Antidote to Perimenopausal Neuroticism Limbo
In the context of women’s career trajectories between the ages of 35 and 50, psychometric analysis reveals three primary categories of attachment patterns influencing professional behavior: (1) women in stable familial relationships, (2) independent women, and (3) women exhibiting problematic attachment dynamics. While the first group tends to prioritize stability and security, often correlating with retention-driven workplace behaviors, and the second group demonstrates masculine-coded traits such as assertiveness and high industriousness — aligning with upward mobility and leadership ambition — the third group exhibits more complex and less predictable behavioral patterns within organizational structures.
This article focuses on the third category, exploring a phenomenon we refer to as Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS). MAS reflects a psychometric profile marked by emotionally ambivalent attachment behaviors, which often intersect with neuroticism and attentional fragmentation — particularly during the perimenopausal window when physiological, emotional, and existential uncertainties tend to compound.
We will dissect the mechanics behind MAS, linking it to neurotic withdrawal, fluctuating self-concept clarity, and career instability. Finally, we propose Structured Internal Value Hierarchies (SIVHs) as a potential psychometric and cognitive framework to counteract MAS-related fragmentation and indecisiveness, offering a stabilizing effect for women navigating this complex life phase.
MAS and Women Prone to It
Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS) can be described as a self-reinforcing behavioral cycle that elevates key subtraits of neuroticism — namely, volatility and withdrawal—within relational contexts marked by sexual intimacy but a lack of emotionally meaningful attachment. Women most susceptible to MAS typically exhibit higher-than-average levels of neuroticism, with a pronounced volatility facet, and are often situated in the 35-50 age range, coinciding with the perimenopausal transition.
During this stage, the emotional stability of women with a neuroticism-prone profile is particularly vulnerable. This is due in part to hormonal turbulence, characterized by erratic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone (McEwen & Milner, 2017). These fluctuations destabilize mood-regulatory neurochemical pathways, notably affecting serotonergic and oxytocinergic systems, which play a central role in emotional regulation, social bonding, and stress tolerance (Bethea et al., 2002; Carter, 2007).
For women with heightened neurotic volatility, this biochemical disruption leads to a cascade effect of intensified emotional reactivity — manifesting in increased irritability, mood swings, anxiety, and reduced resilience under stress. MAS amplifies this by locking the individual into unstable relational dynamics, where emotional needs remain unmet, yet attachment persists due to compensatory mechanisms rooted in sexual intimacy and intermittent reinforcement.
Interestingly, when high openness to ideas and elevated general mental ability (GMA) are present, this often triggers rationalization loops. Women may intellectualize or mask the emerging symptoms of MAS in professional environments, making detection by external observers more difficult. However, behavioral and physiological markers tend to surface subtly but consistently, including loss of productivity, erratic work rhythms, and nonverbal cues such as increased blink rates, micro-expressions of frustration, sudden hand or facial movements, and general psychomotor agitation (Eysenck & Derakshan, 2011).
These psychophysiological signs reflect the heightened sympathetic nervous system activity typical of individuals under chronic emotional strain, providing an observable signal to organizational leaders and HR professionals of potential MAS dynamics at play.
The Tale of the Little Mermaid and Its Relation to the Psychosexual Mechanics of MAS
In Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, we encounter a timeless parable about longing, sacrifice, and self-destruction. The Little Mermaid, driven by desire and a yearning for transcendence, trades her voice — the very core of her identity and power — for the possibility of love and acceptance in the human world. Yet, this sacrifice is compounded by further torment: her every step on human legs is as painful as walking on knives, and her failure to secure the prince’s love threatens her very existence.
This narrative aligns powerfully with the psychosexual and emotional dynamics underpinning Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS). Just as the Little Mermaid sacrifices her voice and endures unbearable pain for a relationship that lacks emotional reciprocity, women experiencing MAS often invest heavily in ambivalent or emotionally unfulfilling attachments, typically within the domain of sexual intimacy that lacks the deeper stability of secure bonding.
In MAS, there is a psychological trade-off similar to the Little Mermaid’s: women relinquish core parts of their psychological agency (symbolically, “their voice”)— be it through self-censorship, emotional overextension, or lowered personal boundaries — in pursuit of relational validation that is chronically withheld or intermittent. The transactional nature of these attachments, rooted in ambivalence, mirrors the prince's lukewarm affection toward the mermaid, who ultimately suffers in silence while observing him bond elsewhere.
The “knife-like pain” reflects the internal experience of volatility in MAS, where the emotional and psychophysiological costs accumulate. This manifests as heightened neurotic tension, where women in these cycles endure sustained emotional discomfort, yet struggle to exit the dynamic due to hope for emotional resolution or fear of abandonment. The dynamic is also reminiscent of intermittent reinforcement theory (Skinner, 1957), where occasional moments of affection or validation are enough to prolong the attachment, even when the overall pattern is detrimental.
In professional settings, this psychosexual withdrawal-volatility loop often spills into workplace behavior. The invisible sacrifice of personal “voice” can lead to passivity, internalized frustration, and unpredictable mood regulation, echoing the mermaid’s transformation into sea foam: a dissipation of personal agency and long-term emotional depletion.
However, as in Andersen’s tale, there is a latent potential for transformation. The Little Mermaid ultimately becomes a Daughter of the Air, suggesting the possibility of spiritual evolution and reconstitution of self. In the MAS context, this parallels the potential for women to reclaim agency and reshape internal value structures—an evolution we will later position within the framework of Structured Internal Value Hierarchies (SIVHs).
The Psychosexual, Neurochemical, and Biochemical Connection to MAS
Women entering perimenopause who have not yet secured a stable romantic or familial relationship often experience an intensified desire for emotional fulfillment and relational security—much like the Little Mermaid, longing to transcend her aquatic world to join the human realm. This yearning is not purely personal but deeply shaped by socio-cultural conditioning (symbolized by “the stories from the grandmother and older sisters” in Andersen’s tale), embedding the belief that relational fulfillment is a key developmental milestone.
Parallel to this emotional drive is an acute temporal awareness: the recognition that time is passing and that windows of opportunity are closing—mirroring the Mermaid’s sense of urgency to act before the prince marries another.
In response to this existential and emotional pressure, many women — often without conscious awareness — seek methods of emotional self-regulation. One common, though maladaptive, coping mechanism is entering into sexually intimate relationships with emotionally unavailable partners. These relationships are typically asymmetrical, driven by factors such as significant age gaps, the partner’s lack of commitment, or the partner’s involvement in other existing relationships.
Women high in agreeableness, particularly those with elevated compassion (a subfacet), may see themselves as caretakers or saviors of these emotionally distant men. This dynamic parallels the Mermaid’s self-sacrificial attempt to save the prince, who, in the tale, misattributes his rescue to someone else — just as women in MAS cycles often feel unseen or unrecognized despite their emotional investments.
The Neurochemical Reinforcement Loop
Sexual intimacy serves as a potent but temporary biochemical regulator, offering brief respite from the psychological discomfort characteristic of high volatility (a neuroticism subtrait). During and after sexual intercourse, a cascade of neurochemical processes unfolds:
Oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” is released, dampening amygdala reactivity and lowering social anxiety, thereby temporarily quieting emotional turbulence (Carter, 2007).
Cortisol levels fall as the HPA axis is downregulated, providing short-term relief from stress and hypersensitivity (McEwen & Milner, 2017).
The release of β-endorphins — natural opioids — further blunts emotional pain and irritability, providing euphoric relief and soothing heightened neurotic states.
Dopamine surges in reward circuits, such as the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex, foster feelings of reward, attachment, and momentary self-efficacy.
Finally, prolactin spikes after orgasm, promoting a transient sense of emotional calm and contentment.
The MAS Trap
For women navigating perimenopause, this neurochemical cocktail can feel like an effective short-term solution to the volatility of their emotional landscape. However, when sexual intimacy becomes a compensatory coping mechanism outside of a supportive and emotionally reciprocal relationship, it reinforces a psychosexual feedback loop at the heart of MAS.
This loop — anchored in temporary biochemical relief but lacking long-term emotional stability — amplifies relational ambivalence and exacerbates feelings of emotional depletion when the relationship fails to satisfy deeper attachment needs. Over time, this leads to further withdrawal, heightened volatility, and a progressive erosion of self-agency, mirroring the Little Mermaid’s tragic sacrifice and silent suffering.
The Neuroticism Limbo Effect of MAS
In cases of Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS), unresolved volatility frequently compounds with additional psychological stressors such as shame, guilt, and attachment anxiety. Women navigating this dynamic often cycle through emotional highs — primarily following episodes of sexual intimacy — only to experience subsequent emotional crashes as the neurochemical benefits (oxytocin, β-endorphins, dopamine) subside and the emotional void left by the lack of true relational depth resurfaces.
Over time, this emotional oscillation results in the deepening of feelings of unworthiness, increased dependency on external validation, and an entrenchment of maladaptive coping strategies. In some cases, this may escalate into risky relational behaviors, such as serial affairs, compulsive sexual patterns, or persistent entanglement with emotionally unavailable partners. These strategies paradoxically amplify neuroticism and further destabilize emotional equilibrium.
The core dysfunction is a neurotic trade-off: unresolved volatility does not simply dissipate but becomes paired with an emergent or worsening withdrawal response. Rather than breaking free, the individual becomes locked in a neurotic limbo—a self-perpetuating spiral where one neuroticism subtrait (volatility) cyclically gives way to another (withdrawal), each reinforcing and exacerbating the other over time.
The Downward Spiral
This pattern forms a downward psychological spiral, where temporary emotional relief through intimacy is consistently followed by emotional withdrawal, self-isolation, and intensified mood dysregulation. Over the long-term, this cycle rewires cognitive and emotional habits, fostering learned helplessness, reduced self-efficacy, and increasing susceptibility to emotionally avoidant or dependency-driven behaviors.
While sexual intimacy initially functions as a potent neurochemical buffer for volatility — soothing distress through oxytocin-mediated bonding and cortisol downregulation — it does not resolve the underlying cognitive and relational deficits associated with high neuroticism. Instead, many women become neurologically and subconsciously conditioned to use short-term intimacy as a default regulation strategy, locking themselves into a life pattern of perpetual crisis and avoidance.
Ultimately, this neurotic limbo robs the individual of the psychological bandwidth and life momentum necessary to cultivate meaningful personal or professional goals. Only after considerable time passes — often years — do some recognize the heavy cumulative cost: lost time, eroded self-concept clarity, and the forfeiture of opportunities to construct a coherent and fulfilling life narrative.
Why this works:
The neuroticism limbo is now conceptualized as a dynamic feedback loop between volatility and withdrawal, strengthening the model.
Added psychological terminology (self-efficacy, learned helplessness, emotional bandwidth) to elevate academic precision.
The language now more explicitly connects neurochemical regulation with long-term maladaptation.
The Partial Solution from the Tale
An essential, though difficult, component of resolving Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS) lies in what the Little Mermaid never does — “killing the prince.” In Andersen’s tale, the mermaid is offered a magic knife to sever her emotional and existential tie to the prince, yet she refuses, choosing instead to sacrifice herself. Symbolically, this reflects the refusal to cut off an emotionally unfulfilling relationship, despite clear signs that it will never meet her deeper needs.
In the MAS context, the practical application of this metaphor is clear: when a relational dynamic has persisted for 12 months or longer without progressing toward a meaningful emotional commitment — such as the prospect of family, long-term partnership, or shared life goals — there is a high probability that the relationship will remain in this emotionally stagnant state indefinitely.
A Crossroads for the Individual
The psychologically healthier course of action is to act counter to the mermaid’s path: to sever the attachment before deeper emotional and neurochemical dependencies become entrenched. This demands decisive action, especially in environments where relational ambiguity and intermittent rewards reinforce the volatility–withdrawal cycle.
Failing to break the tie can deepen the MAS pathology, propelling women into two distinct maladaptive trajectories:
Altruistic overfunctioning (typically in women with higher assertiveness or elevated conscientiousness), where one compensates for emotional emptiness by “saving” or “fixing” the partner at the expense of self.
Compassion-driven victimhood (in women with lower assertiveness and higher agreeableness), where emotional depletion and passivity perpetuate the cycle, reinforcing self-sacrifice as a survival strategy.
In both trajectories, the pattern echoes the Little Mermaid’s self-effacement, where emotional labor and sacrifice ultimately consume personal agency and delay the construction of a stable, fulfilling life.
Breaking free of this archetypal tragedy requires a psychometric and behavioral shift — an internal restructuring of priorities that can reorient the individual away from symbolic self-sacrifice and toward self-directed life authorship.
SIVHs and MAS: A Gradual but Necessary Exit Strategy
While the implementation of Structured Internal Value Hierarchies (SIVHs) does not serve as an immediate or complete cure for Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS), it provides a critical foundation for long-term resolution. The reason is straightforward: MAS is sustained by an emotionally and neurochemically rewarding relational dynamic that, at least superficially, lacks clearly visible negative outcomes. Much like substance dependencies or behavioral addictions, the MAS dynamic provides short-term relief and emotional gratification, making it difficult to relinquish — especially when the partner is equally invested in preserving the relationship due to his own psychological needs.
The Universality and Complexity of the MAS Trap
One of the key barriers to overcoming MAS is its universal appeal and simplicity compared to its alternative. Sexual intimacy with an emotionally unavailable partner is often readily accessible, offers momentary emotional regulation, and provides intermittent reinforcement that masks deeper relational deficits. Conversely, the alternative path — personal independence and self-sufficiency — is significantly more demanding, requiring multidimensional life restructuring.
True personal independence, as conceptualized within the SIVH framework, necessitates progress across several life domains:
Material stability (financial independence and security),
Career development and self-efficacy,
Physical health and vitality,
Healthy interpersonal and familial relationships, and
A reinvigorated sense of purpose and internal clarity.
This process requires significant cognitive and emotional reorientation, making it a longer-term transformation rather than an instant "fix."
SIVHs as a Compass Toward Sustainable Change
Although SIVHs may not immediately break the neurochemical and emotional cycles that sustain MAS, they provide a clear directional structure for navigating away from maladaptive relational patterns. By clarifying internal value hierarchies and restructuring goals around autonomy, self-determination, and life coherence, women entangled in MAS are progressively empowered to diminish dependency-driven behaviors and orient themselves toward self-authorship.
Our empirical observations indicate that the only sustainable exit from MAS — and the volatility–withdrawal spiral it fuels — is through the achievement of personal independence first, followed by the pursuit of emotionally mature and secure relationships.
Organizational Implications
For employers and organizational leaders, understanding MAS provides insight into behavioral patterns commonly observed among perimenopausal employees, such as fluctuating performance, heightened emotional reactivity, or withdrawal behaviors. Recognizing the interplay between personal relational instability and workplace behavior enables more nuanced and supportive human resource strategies.
This conceptualization also underscores the importance of psychological and structural support systems in fostering environments where employees, particularly those navigating neuroticism-linked cycles, can be encouraged to engage in self-clarification processes, such as those provided by SIVH-based interventions.
Conclusion: Breaking the Mermaid Spell – Toward Personal Sovereignty through SIVHs
The Mermaid Attachment Syndrome (MAS) reflects a deeper psychosexual and neurochemical entrapment rooted in unbalanced attachment dynamics, heightened neuroticism, and a reliance on emotionally shallow yet neurochemically rewarding relational patterns. Much like Andersen’s Little Mermaid, women entrapped by MAS sacrifice core elements of their agency — symbolized by the mermaid’s voice — in pursuit of relational validation, often from emotionally unavailable partners.
We have shown that MAS is not merely a relational or emotional issue, but a biochemical feedback loop where volatility and withdrawal trade places in a self-reinforcing spiral. The short-term neurochemical relief provided by sexual intimacy—via oxytocin, dopamine, β-endorphins, and cortisol reduction —paradoxically locks the individual into a cycle of emotional dependency and life inertia, preventing long-term psychological stability and personal growth.
The tale of the mermaid offers a symbolic warning: without the willingness to “kill the prince” — to sever attachments that no longer serve personal development—many will continue down a path of self-sacrifice, delay, and emotional depletion. In the modern context, this translates into persistent relational cycles that erode time, self-worth, and potential.
Structured Internal Value Hierarchies (SIVHs) provide a pathway out of this limbo. While they may not immediately override the neurochemical rewards of MAS, SIVHs offer an invaluable framework for women to re-prioritize autonomy, strengthen internal decision-making, and systematically rebuild independence. SIVHs help to crystallize core values, align emotional energy with long-term life goals, and reduce susceptibility to fragmented, dependency-driven behaviors.
Finally, the broader implications of MAS extend into the professional sphere. Employers and HR leaders who recognize the subtle but significant influence of relational instability on workplace performance—especially in the perimenopausal window — can create more effective strategies for supporting employee well-being and productivity.
In closing, the antidote to MAS is not external rescue but internal reordering. It is through reclaiming one’s metaphorical “voice,” constructing clear internal value hierarchies, and breaking free from maladaptive cycles that women can transition from emotional survival to authentic self-authorship — both in life and in work.
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