infantilization
Making someone juvenile
Infantilization is treating someone as less capable or mature than they are—speaking to them in baby talk, making decisions for them, or denying them autonomy appropriate to their age.
It happens to the elderly in care facilities, to women in professional settings, to disabled adults presumed incompetent: The infantilization of patients undermines their dignity.
The verb is infantilize.
Demeaning air of superiority
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- paternalismControlling others for their good
- disrespectLack of regard
dismissal · trivialization · underestimation · diminishment · disempowerment · minimization · talking down · oversimplification
Undeveloped condition
- childishnessImmature conduct
- juvenilizationRetention of immature characteristics
- babyishnessChildlike immaturity in manner
- stunted growthIncomplete physical development
age regression · tantrums · petulance · whining · neediness · security blanket · naivety · innocence
Lacking ability to cope
- overprotectionExcessive safeguarding of another
- coddlingOverindulgent, protective treatment
- disempowermentLoss of agency
- passivityState of non-resistance
reliance · incapacity · incompetence · learned helplessness · enabling · smothering · hovering · spoon-feeding
condescension
Demeaning air of superiority
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- paternalismControlling others for their good
disrespect · dismissal · trivialization · underestimation · diminishment · disempowerment · minimization · talking down · oversimplification · stereotype
immaturity
Undeveloped condition
- childishnessImmature conduct
- juvenilizationRetention of immature characteristics
- babyishnessChildlike immaturity in manner
stunted growth · age regression · tantrums · petulance · whining · neediness · security blanket · naivety · innocence · playfulness
helplessness
Lacking ability to cope
- overprotectionExcessive safeguarding of another
- coddlingOverindulgent, protective treatment
- disempowermentLoss of agency
passivity · reliance · incapacity · incompetence · learned helplessness · enabling · smothering · hovering · spoon-feeding · hand-holding
- ageismageism, age discrimination, elder abuse, elder neglect, adultism
- Neurodiversityautism spectrum, ASD, neurodivergence, neurotypical, spectrum
- overparentinghelicopter parenting, helicopter parent, overprotective, overprotection, overprotecting
- ableismableism, stigma, prejudice, discrimination, exclusion
- parentinggentle parenting, child, mom, children, kids
- weaknessesweakness, flaw, failing, defect, shortcoming
infantilizationempowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
self-determination · autonomy · agency · emancipation · enfranchisement
infantilizationdignifying
Giving unearned respect
honoring · respecting · validation · esteeming · deference
infant, infants, infancy, infantile, infanticide, infantilize, infantilism, infantilized, infantilizing