An Australian life coach has sparked intense discussion after identifying what she describes as a toxic new trend silently eroding friendships, romantic partnerships and professional relationships across the UK and beyond.
The Dangerous Cycle of Pedestalling
Felicity Morgan, a 35-year-old relationship expert, has built a substantial online following through her candid insights into relationships, self-worth and female dynamics. Her latest warning focuses on a behaviour pattern she terms 'pedestalling', which she claims is causing significant damage in people's lives.
'Pedestalling occurs when someone doesn't truly see you - they see an idealised fantasy version they've created in their mind,' Morgan explained to Daily Mail. 'It's when admiration transforms into obsession, and they begin projecting their own aspirations onto you. This isn't genuine connection; it's worship masquerading as relationship.'
According to Morgan, who has coached over 10,000 clients through her self-development company, this pattern represents the initial stage of a destructive cycle that nearly always culminates in resentment and relationship breakdown.
From Idealisation to Demonisation
'Pedestalling involves someone idolising you with the underlying intention of eventually demonising you,' Morgan revealed in a recent viral clip that has attracted thousands of views and comments online. 'Whether they're consciously aware of this pattern or not, their ultimate goal is to end up feeling superior to people they initially felt inferior towards.'
The life coach outlined the distinct stages of this toxic dynamic, beginning with love bombing, followed by feeding off the target's confidence, then rising insecurity, villainising, and finally moving on to their next target. She emphasises this isn't merely theoretical but something she has observed repeatedly in her professional practice and experienced personally.
Morgan specifically noted that pedestalling appears most prominently in female friendships, where the boundaries between admiration and envy can become dangerously blurred with remarkable speed.
Corporate Culture and Psychological Roots
This damaging behaviour isn't confined to personal relationships alone. Morgan highlighted that the same pattern frequently emerges in corporate environments, creating extremely toxic workplace dynamics.
'This is super common in corporate settings where people attempt to feed off colleagues positioned above them, often with the underlying plan to undermine them once they've extracted what they need,' Morgan explained.
The psychological foundation of pedestalling, according to Morgan, stems from deep-seated insecurity and a desperate need to feel superior. In contemporary society, she argues this behaviour is becoming increasingly prevalent as people approach relationships with a 'what can I get from someone?' mentality.
'They feed off your energy to feel powerful, but the moment that stops working effectively, they need to tear you down to rebalance the dynamic,' Morgan stated.
Drawing from painful personal experience, Morgan shared one particularly shocking instance where she discovered one of her longest-standing clients, who had worked with her for three years, had secretly been trolling her online using a burner account.
Recognising the Early Warning Signs
Identifying pedestalling behaviour early can be challenging, Morgan acknowledges, because the initial signs often feel flattering and positive. Behaviours like excessive praise, over-identification, rapid attachment and 'making you their everything' can all serve as red flags when they appear too intensely, too soon.
'You don't necessarily need to confront these dynamics directly,' Morgan advised. 'Instead, develop your ability to recognise them early, so you avoid participating in the destructive dance. Since the outcome is almost always inevitable, if you cannot stop their projection, simply stop engaging with it.'
Her recommended approach involves noticing when pedestalling occurs and gradually creating distance. 'They'll typically move on to their next target relatively quickly once they recognise you're no longer participating in the dynamic.'
