infantilisation
Making someone seem immature
Infantilisation is treating someone as less capable or mature than they are—speaking to adults as if they were children, making decisions for people who could decide for themselves, or designing systems that assume incompetence.
The term often appears in criticism of healthcare, elder care, or patronising workplace cultures: The infantilisation of patients undermines their dignity.
Also spelled infantilization.
Return to former state
- dependenceState of needing another
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- paternalismControlling others for their good
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
disempowerment · belittling · patronizing · coddling · overprotection · learned helplessness · autonomy · agency
Excessive supervisory control
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- trustConfidence in another
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
productivity · monitoring · timekeeping · dress code · cubicle · hierarchy · demeaning · permission
Residential facilities for dependents
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- patientsThose receiving medical treatment
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
ageism · elderspeak · medicalization · residents · dementia · custody · inmates · bureaucracy
Members of a nation
- electorateEligible voting body
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
rhetoric · populism · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · subjects · masses · obedience · compliance
Preoccupation with acquiring goods
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- dumbing downMaking content less challenging
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- adultingDoing mundane grownup tasks
kidult · Peter Pan · boomerang · failure to launch · millennials · avoidance · escapism · comfort
regression
Return to former state
- dependenceState of needing another
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- paternalismControlling others for their good
condescension · disempowerment · belittling · patronizing · coddling · overprotection · learned helplessness · autonomy · agency · self-determination
micromanagement
Excessive supervisory control
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- trustConfidence in another
empowerment · productivity · monitoring · timekeeping · dress code · cubicle · hierarchy · demeaning · permission · approval
care homes
Residential facilities for dependents
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- patientsThose receiving medical treatment
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
nursing · ageism · elderspeak · medicalization · residents · dementia · custody · inmates · bureaucracy · welfare
citizens
Members of a nation
- electorateEligible voting body
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
disinformation · rhetoric · populism · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · subjects · masses · obedience · compliance · nanny state
consumerism
Preoccupation with acquiring goods
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
- dumbing downMaking content less challenging
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
adulting · kidult · Peter Pan · boomerang · failure to launch · millennials · avoidance · escapism · comfort · simplification
infantilisationempowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
emancipation · autonomy · self-determination · enfranchisement · liberation
infantilisationmaturation
Process of becoming complete
growth · development · coming-of-age · parentification · individuation
infantilisationrespect
Regard with honor
validation · recognition · esteem · dignification · dignifying
infant, infancy, infantry, infantile, infanticide, infanthood, infantilization, infantilise, infantilised