Breadcrumbing is a dating term describing the practice of keeping someone interested with small gestures of communication without committing to a relationship. It’s akin to ghosting but involves periodic contact, leaving the recipient questioning the other person’s intentions. Psychologists explain breadcrumbing as a form of intermittent reinforcement, akin to gambling, where occasional attention sustains the hope of a genuine connection. To end breadcrumbing, it’s recommended to cut off contact to protect one’s mental and emotional well-being.