^ so she still has friends, so how can the control freak allow her to have friends, as you say that he made her break all ties with her friends?
Maybe its only you that she broke her ties with for some 'other' reasons
Anyway I think its best to get over it as to think over what might be the reasons, don't you think?
Mehnaz, btw I have also seen controling females/wifes, its not primary only a man thing, you know.
Saadia, I know it isn't primarily a male thing. I've also seen controlling women, and gosh, that deserves a thread all on its own. Anyway, my query was specifically about men which is why I worded it with men in mind.
"Another mind boggling question for me is...why do women who are clearly Not "naiive" or "paindu", for lack of a better word, put up with such treatment? Is it lack of confidence? insecurities about being alone? habituation to the way things are in the relationship?"
Kwaahish, you say your friend was the most self-confident person you knew who didn't have low self-esteem. I've seen quite a few people like this and it's usually these people who really do have self-esteem issues and are indeed insecure about themselves deep down inside.
Anyway, why do women stay with such men? Maybe it's cause of these low self-esteem and insecurities. They probably think the "control freak" is the only man in the world who will ever truly love them. Or, they might actually think they can change him. Who knows!