Lack of affection and love in childhood often has repercussions in adult life. Many behaviors demonstrate this.
Every childhood is different. Some grow up well cared for, while others struggle to find sources of affection. This period considerably influences adult life. Common patterns then emerge regarding people who grew up with little love. While this obviously does not apply to everyone, some similar behaviors are emerging.
People who lacked affection in their youth are first characterized by their independence. They built themselves and continue to do so. While this doesn’t mean they’re incapable of connecting, they often feel like they only have themselves to rely on. They even struggle to accept help from others, seeing this approach as a sign of weakness. They are nevertheless tenacious and know how to adapt: they are experts in the art of overcoming difficulties.
For social relationships, it is very complex, as personal development expert Adrian Volenik explains to HackSpirit. Instilling confidence in them is not easy. Having been disappointed in the past, people lacking love put in place a protection mechanism. At the same time, they develop a great fear of rejection and therefore prefer not to open up for fear of suffering or being abandoned.
These people also tend to focus on what could go wrong and to always be suspicious rather than enjoying the good times. Thus, they sometimes choose to extricate themselves to avoid taking risks or facing conflicts. The fear of being hurt then prevents them from creating deep connections.
Conversely, if they decide to engage in relationships, they will often give everything, even forgetting their personal well-being. Looking for recognition and approval, they will do anything to obtain it, putting no limits on commitment. They will also need constant reassurance.
In relationships, they are also very empathetic, which becomes almost paradoxical. Having experienced an emotional lack, they understand others more easily and are more sensitive to their emotions and show compassion. A quality that can once again push them to think of others as a priority.
Furthermore, there is often a great lack of self-esteem among people who lacked love in their childhood.. Their severity towards themselves pushes them sometimes to believe that they are not worthy of love or even success in life. They thus unknowingly practice a sort of autoabotage and erect themselves their own obstacles.