The "Clown" Role in Same-Sex Intimate Relationships: A Dyadic Exploration of Relational Dynamics and Intervention Efficacy

Building on the preliminary characterization of the 'clown' trauma-adaptive role in one-sided same-sex intimate relationships, this study advances the research by adopting a dyadic perspective to examine the interactive dynamics between the 'clown' individual and their partner, and evaluate the clinical efficacy of targeted intervention strategies for the 'clown' persona. We recruited 12 same-sex dyads where one partner self-identified as the 'clown' (n=12) and the other as the dominant relational partner (n=12), collecting longitudinal chat records, semi-structured clinical interviews, and behavioral observation data over a 6-month period. Integrating dyadic discourse analysis, attachment assessment, and pre-post intervention outcome measurement, we identified two distinct dominant partner typologies (the anxious-controlling and the avoidant-dismissive) that shape the manifestation of the 'clown' role, and uncovered a reciprocal reinforcement cycle between the 'clown’s' maladaptive accommodation and the dominant partner’s emotional abuse/neglect. Additionally, we designed a modular intervention program targeting the core mechanisms of the 'clown' persona (attachment insecurity, externalized self-worth, and deficient boundary setting), and found that the program yielded significant improvements in the 'clown' individuals’ affective expression, relational agency, and intrinsic self-worth, with moderate positive changes in the dominant partners’ relational behavior. Our findings extend the micro-relational trauma framework for sexual minority intimate relationships, clarify the dyadic underpinnings of the 'clown' phenomenon, and provide empirically supported clinical intervention protocols for this understudied population.