Japan’s deep connection to childish relationships www.bbc.com

“Amae is not one thing,” says Behrens.
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“It starts with the assumption that your amae will be accepted,” says Behrens.
Not all Japanese are welcoming or tolerant of amae or engage in it, nor do attempts at eliciting amae succeed 100 percent of the time, Behrens notes.
But when wielded inappropriately, “it ends up being rather undemocratic, whether at home or at work.” Absolute adherence to amae can bolster hierarchical relationships and power imbalances.