infantilsm
Infantilism (noun)
Psychology and Medicine: The persistence of childlike physical or psychological traits into adulthood, often characterized by underdeveloped physical features or immature behavior.
- Example: The patient's infantilism was evident in his delayed sexual development and childish mannerisms.
General Usage: A state or condition of being childishly immature in thought, emotion, or behavior.
- Example: Her constant tantrums and dependence on others were signs of emotional infantilism.
- (A medical condition causing physical underdevelopment.)
- (Immature behavior in a professional context.)
- (Medical intervention for physical underdevelopment.)
"Psychic infantilism": A term used to describe an adult's persistent childish emotional responses, often linked to trauma or developmental delays.
- Her psychic infantilism made it difficult for her to form mature relationships. (Emotional immaturity rooted in psychological issues.)
"Social infantilism": A sociocultural concept referring to a society or group that exhibits childlike dependency or lack of responsibility.
- The overreliance on government subsidies was seen as a form of social infantilism. (Collective immaturity in a societal context.)
Infantile (adj): characteristic of or resembling a very young child; immature.
- His infantile jokes annoyed the entire class. (Childish in a negative sense.)
Infantilize (verb): to treat (someone) as if they are a child, thereby preventing them from developing maturity.
- Parents who infantilize their adult children hinder their independence. (Treating as a child.)
Infant (noun): a very young child or baby.
- The infant slept peacefully in the crib. (A baby.)
Immaturity: the state of not being fully developed in mind or body.
- His emotional immaturity was obvious in his inability to apologize. (Lack of adult-like behavior.)
Childishness: behavior typical of a child, often in a negative sense.
- Her childishness made her difficult to work with. (Immature actions.)
Juvenility: the quality of being young or youthful, sometimes implying immaturity.
- The juvenility of his ideas limited their practical application. (Youthful lack of depth.)
"Peter Pan syndrome": An informal term for a person who refuses to grow up, displaying social infantilism.
- He has Peter Pan syndrome, always avoiding adult responsibilities. (A modern cultural reference to infantilism.)
"Cry like a baby": To express excessive emotion in a childish way, often linked to emotional infantilism.
- Don't cry like a baby over a small mistake. (Overreaction typical of immaturity.)
- Maturity: the state of being fully developed physically and emotionally.
- Adulthood: the state of being an adult, with corresponding responsibilities.
- Sophistication: the quality of being worldly and experienced.