The Constant Contest

One major form of abuse is an inability to hear the word NO.

That's a key part of how abusers control others - by refusing to hear them, by refusing to accept the boundaries they set, by wearing them out.

To such a person, everything - everything - every single human interaction, 24/7, world without end - is a contest. They absolutely have to win every such contest.

Which means the other person involved must be defeated.

Every time.

About everything.

This is not exactly a solid foundation to build on.