The Anatomy of Dependence

About “The Anatomy of Dependence”

The Anatomy of Dependence is a 1971 book by Japanese psychoanalyst Takeo Doi. In it, Doi introduces the concept of amae, which he defines as a uniquely Japanese need to be in good favor with and to depend on others. He compares this tendency to childlike behavior, based on the expectation that others will indulge and support the individual. Doi argues that the ideal relationship is one resembling that of a parent and child, and that other relationships should aim for a similar level of closeness and dependency. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)