Why do parents force you to hug people?

Question

Like, I have vivid memories of my mom telling me to give people a hug, whether it was her, my uncle, or the random lady at church who always avoided me for some weird reason. My older sister does it with her toddler, too, to make him give her friends hugs after briefly talking with them. I didn't always like to hug people! Especially the church ladies, they hugged too tightly and wore too much perfume. So, why do parents force their children to give other people hugs? They don't even ask the person going to be hugged, it just seems weird to me.

? · Accepted Answer

hugging is a culture that shows friendliness and so i guess parents are always trying to get their kids to be more social and all that jazz

? · Answer

I suppose it's a socializing behavior

irishlass · Answer

I agree i always found it weird, and hated when my mom made me hug or kiss family when i was growing up. I think most parents see it as a way to socialise kids, or to not hurt grandma's feelings. But it is wrong to force your kids to to this. it teaches kids to ignore their own feelings and insticts about a person just to please someone. thier bodies are their own, and they should never be forced to allow others to touch them if they don't want it. I see it all the time with my friends grandkids, she gets all pissy and hurt if they don't want to hug her, i see the look on their face that screams i dont want to but have too. i hate that look. I love her grandkids (i'm an adopted aunt according to them since they decided to call me their aunt  lol), and if I want a hug, i always ask them if i can get one, if they say no, so be it, i dont let myself be hurt, but i love when they do say ok, cause they give great hugs.

mokrie · Answer

Your right. That should not be done to children. It almost tells them that physical contact with strangers is good and that can be a dangerous message.

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Why do parents force you to hug people?

4 Answers