Saed News: People who received little physical affection and touch from trusted figures in childhood tend to exhibit certain behaviors in adulthood.
According to Saed News’ Family Magazine section, childhood experiences have a profound impact on our adult lives—especially when it comes to physical affection. Those who were rarely hugged or caressed as children often display specific traits and behaviors later in life.
Psychology offers interesting insights into these behaviors. They are not always negative, but they do set these individuals apart from those who received plenty of physical affection as children.
In this article, we explore the world of psychology and examine nine common behaviors found in people who grew up without much physical affection.
1. Difficulty Forming Close Relationships
Growing up in an environment with little physical affection can have long-term effects on our ability to form relationships in adulthood.
Psychologists say that children who are not hugged enough often struggle to form deep connections later in life. This is because physical touch plays a crucial role in our early bonding experiences. Hugs and physical closeness give us feelings of security, love, and connection. Without these experiences, trusting others or feeling safe in relationships can be challenging.
This does not mean that people who lacked physical affection as children cannot form close relationships—but it may require more effort and self-awareness. Recognizing this pattern can be the first step toward changing it and building healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
2. Excessive Need for Independence
Your parents may have been loving but unable to express physical affection. In such cases, you may develop a strong need for independence and self-reliance in adulthood. It’s as if you have internalized the idea that "I shouldn’t rely too much on others."
Psychologists suggest that this could stem from a lack of physical affection in childhood. While independence is a positive trait, it can sometimes lead to isolation. Learning to ask for help and rely on others when necessary is something to work on.
3. Higher Levels of Stress and Anxiety
A lack of physical affection in childhood is often linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression in adulthood. Numerous psychological studies support this.
A study conducted by researchers at UCLA found that children who received less physical affection had higher levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—in their bodies. High cortisol levels are associated with anxiety and depression.
4. Difficulty Expressing Physical Affection
People who received little physical affection as children often struggle with physical touch in adulthood as well.
5. Greater Resilience and Self-Reliance
Some individuals who lacked physical affection in childhood grow up to be strong and independent. These individuals often learn to solve problems on their own and develop resilience in difficult situations.
Psychologists believe this resilience is often due to early exposure to hardships and the need to find ways to cope. However, this type of independence can sometimes come at the cost of feeling isolated or avoiding reliance on others.
6. High Sensitivity to Nonverbal Communication
When physical affection is lacking, people may unconsciously develop other ways to connect with others. Many of these individuals become highly skilled at reading body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
This sensitivity to nonverbal communication can help them form deep connections with others. However, in some cases, excessive sensitivity can lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary worries.
7. Difficulty Expressing Emotions
People who received little physical affection in childhood may struggle to express their emotions in adulthood.
Psychological research shows that hugging and physical touch not only provide comfort but also serve as important tools for expressing and experiencing emotions. Without these experiences in childhood, some individuals may have difficulty articulating their feelings or may avoid expressing them altogether.
8. Strong Need for Personal Space
Those who lacked physical affection in childhood often develop a strong need for personal space in adulthood.
They may feel uncomfortable with excessive closeness or even sudden physical contact. This behavior is a natural response to a childhood with little physical touch, where they unconsciously learned to maintain their distance.
9. The Possibility of Change and Growth
One of the positive aspects of psychology is that it teaches us that our past does not have to define our future. Even if we received little affection in childhood, we can gradually learn to integrate love and warmth into our lives.
This change requires time, effort, and self-awareness, but by working on ourselves and building healthy relationships, we can reach a point where we experience and express love in a positive way.
Psychologists suggest that simple practices like mindfulness, openly expressing emotions, and fostering affectionate relationships can help us make these changes in our lives.
