Defensive devaluation is a protective device that makes love bad, trust unimportant and people "no darn good any way". People who have been deeply hurt in their relationships will often devalue love so it doesn't hurt so much. And they often become resigned to never loving again.
Henry Cloud, Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't
avoiding-pain, bad-relationships, devaluation, no-good, relationships