With this contribution we intend to analyze and provide tools to promptly detect relationships characterized by emotional dependence, with conduct of emotional abuse. A conceptualization is proposed that takes into account the interpersonal motivational systems and the patient’s metacognitive functioning. Ideas are presented to detect, at the base, imbalances in the social ability of empathy, analyzing the “codependent profile” and the dysfunctional training and maintenance methods typical of some affective styles are highlighted. To support these reflections, reference was made to the model of interpersonal motivational systems developed by Liotti and collaborators.