Is there a word for someone that doesn't like to be hugged?

Question

If there is, that's me.

Answer 1

Aphephobia = Fear of being touched.

Therefore the person would be referred to as an APHEPHOBIC.

Also known as haphephobia, haphophobia, hapnophobia, haptephobia, and haptophobia.

Standoffish, remote, distant, aloof and reserved are all good adjectives to describe such a person.

Answer 2

Before I read your second sentence, I thought of "standoffish," but now I think you're looking for a word to forestall would-be huggers without hurting their feelings, and the best I can think of is to say, "Sorry--I'm just not a hugger." If there's some affectionate gesture you'd rather make, try to get there first with it, like putting your hands on the other person's shoulders and, keeping your elbows as straight as you can, lean in to give him or her a little kiss on the cheek or in the air near it. Or clasp both the other person's hands in your and then kiss or not, as you choose. Otherwise, the best solution may be just to stay out of reach.

Answer 3

There is not a name for that particular behavior, however, there are some psychological conditions that cause people to not want to be touched by other people.

Added: if you mean that you just don't like being touched, say so, or is it just hugging that you don't like?

Answer 4

It's called "tactile hypersensitivity."

Some call it ‘tactile defensiveness’ - a fancy name for people who simply don’t want to be touched, and usually have very good reasons for it:
· Being physically hypersensitive and finding it painful, overwhelming, repulsive or distracting to be hugged or touched. Or too personal and invasive.

Answer 5

There are words like remote, distant, self-conscious and stand-offish. But the best word is that which describes the root cause of the condition, and I don't know that.