Japs Loving Mother Better |work|

Perhaps no single concept illuminates the Japanese mother-child bond better than amae (甘え). Originally described by psychoanalyst Takeo Doi in his influential 1971 book “The Anatomy of Dependence,” amae refers to the expectation that one can indulge in another’s goodwill and love—essentially, the feeling of being able to depend on someone unconditionally.

A Japanese mother traditionally accepts her child’s dependence unconditionally. This creates a psychological safe haven. As children grow into adulthood, the mother remains the one person before whom they can drop their societal masks ( tatemae ) and express their true, vulnerable selves ( honne ). japs loving mother better