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Those of you who like fantasy fiction movies or books are familiar with the character Peter Pan, a boy who can't grow up. Well it turns out, we can also find Peter Pan in the real world. Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend. In the medical world, adult males who are childish to an unnatural degree are called Peter Pan syndrome. Curious? Check out the following reviews.
Get to know what Peter Pan syndrome is
Adult men should be able to live independently and not depend on others. However, men with Peter Pan syndrome have the opposite trait. They don't behave according to their age; tends to be independent and very childish, just like the Peter Pan character in fiction. There are many names for this syndrome, such as king baby or little prince syndrome.
Of course, not only men have childish nature. Some adult women may also be childish. Even so, Peter Pan syndrome is more common in men because psychologists argue that adult men tend to have bigger responsibilities, such as being the head of the household or earning a living.
The factor that causes a person to have Peter Pan syndrome is the wrong way of looking at themselves and their surroundings. Reporting from Science Daily, generally, the parenting style of parents who are too protective can cause children to grow up with this syndrome. They feel that growing up must take on a lot of responsibility, have to be able to make commitments with themselves and others, and face life's more difficult challenges.
Feelings of anxiety, fear, inadequacy, and insecurity then make them want to protect themselves by behaving like children. It is this heavy mental pressure that may trigger a feeling of "wanting to escape responsibility" and make a person want to return to a life-free childhood.
Although related to psychological problems, this syndrome is not an official diagnosis of mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Signs that a man has Peter Pan syndrome
Reporting from Psychology Today, Berit Brogaard D.M.Sci.Ph.D., lecturer in philosophy at Miami University, explained that there are several characteristics that indicate a man has this syndrome, namely:
- Tend to behave like children, adolescents, or people who are younger than their age. Usually, people with this syndrome also make friends with younger people.
- Always depend on other people and bother others. Expecting to always be protected and obeyed all his requests. Fear and worry too much if you do everything yourself.
- Unable to maintain a stable long term relationship, especially romance. His childish nature sometimes makes a partner uncomfortable. In addition, people with this syndrome find it difficult to be romantic and choose a younger partner.
- Fear of committing or promising things, be it in a love or work relationship.
- Less responsible in work or in managing finances. Always put personal interests first, especially for his own satisfaction and goodness.
- Do not want to admit mistakes and pass them on to others so it is difficult to introspect yourself.
Not all men with Peter Pan syndrome have the same symptoms, so they can be difficult to identify. Need further examination, not only on the patient, but also the people around him. Because patients often do not realize and feel as if they are fine. It needs proper care to change the patient's behavior and the people around the patient in dealing with it.
