Definition

Noun: 1. Infantile behavior in mature persons: The persistence of childish or immature emotional attitudes, dependencies, or behaviors into adolescence or adulthood. 2. An abnormal condition in which an older child or adult retains infantile characteristics: A medical or psychological condition marked by the physical or mental retention of traits typical of an infant or very young child.

Usage and Examples

• General Usage (Psychological):
  • His refusal to take responsibility was seen as a form of infantilism.
  • The therapist noted patterns of emotional infantilism in the patient's relationships.
• Medical/Scientific Usage:
  • The rare endocrine disorder resulted in physical infantilism, delaying puberty.
  • The study focused on infantilism as a potential symptom of certain hormonal deficiencies.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term is often used in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and medicine to describe arrested development.
• It can be used critically in social or political commentary to describe populations treated as or acting like children.
  • The authoritarian regime was accused of fostering political infantilism among its citizens.

Variants and Related Words

• Infantile (adj): Characteristic of or befitting an infant; childish.
  • His infantile tantrums were inappropriate for a man his age.
• Infantilize (verb): To treat someone as if they are a child, thereby encouraging immature behavior.
  • It is harmful to infantilize elderly patients.

Synonyms

• Childishness: The quality of being suitable for a child; silliness.
• Immaturity: The state of not being fully grown or developed.
• Puerilism (medical/psychological): A condition similar to infantilism.

Antonyms

• Maturity: The state of being fully developed in body or mind.
• Adulthood: The state or condition of being fully grown or mature.

Noun

1. infantile behavior in mature persons
2. an abnormal condition in which an older child or adult retains infantile characteristics