Infantilization

Infantilization is treating an adult is if they were a child.^[1] When directed at teenagers or adolescents, it may refer to treating them younger than their actual age.^[2] The recipient of such treatment is widely viewed as having been treated with disrespect. Such individuals may report feelings of feeling hurt and a sense of transgression akin to dehumanization.^[3]

There can be an overlap between the terms "infantilization" and "patronization", although infantilization may derive more specifically from a sense of age group or hierarchical seniority on the infantilizers part.

Infantilization may also refer to a process when a child is being treated in a manner appropriate for much younger age.^[4]

See also

• Dumbing down

References

1. Maude, Ulrika (2011). Beckett and Phenomenology. p. 111. 'to infantilize someone', for instance by treating an adult person as if he or she were a child
2. Couture, Pamela (2007). Child Poverty: Love, Justice, and Social Responsibility. p. 199.
3. Ware, Mark (2013). Handbook of Demonstrations and Activities in the Teaching of Psychology volume 2. p. 281.
4. Gresham, Mary (1976). The infantilization of the elderly: A developing concept. In Maternal Overprotection, Levy (1957) defines infantilization as that process occurring in childhood whereby certain activities in caring for the child are continued beyond the stage of development when such activities usually occur.