infantilism[in fan′ti liz′əm; also in′fən-]
- immature or childish behavior
- Psychol. an abnormal state in which such behavior persists into adult life: it is marked by retarded mental and physical growth and by failure to mature sexually
- A state of arrested development in an adult, characterized by retention of infantile mentality, accompanied by stunted growth and sexual immaturity, and often by dwarfism.
- a. Marked immaturity, as in behavior or character: “infantilism, which is the subtext of so much American cinema and culture” (John Simon).b. An infantile act or remark.