''For the manga, see Peter Pan Syndrome (manga).

The term Peter Pan Syndrome has been accepted in popular psychology (i.e., is used by both laypeople and informally by some psychology professionals) since the publication of a book in 1983 entitled The Peter Pan Syndrome: Men Who Have Never Grown Up, written by Dr. Dan Kiley. Kiley also wrote a companion book, The Wendy Dilemma, published in 1984. There is no evidence that "Peter Pan syndrome" is an actual psychological condition and it is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Psychology

---

Many see this syndrome as a very widespread problem in modern, post-industrial society.

The Peter-Pan psychological type is one characterized by immaturity or certain sorts of psychological, social, and sexual problems. The type of male personality in question is immature and narcissistic. More completely, according to Kiley, the characteristics of a "Peter-Pan" include such attributes as irresponsibility, rebelliousness, anger, narcissism, dependency, manipulativeness, and the belief that he is beyond society's laws and norms. According to Kiley, "Peter Pan" is the adult little boy who, when in a relationship or in seeking a relationship, acts out a need for mothering.

In his Peter Pan book, Kiley likened the characters of J. M. Barrie's play, Peter Pan, to a dysfunctional co-dependent family.

Wendy

---

"Wendy" is the adult little-girl role - a woman who (often unconsciously) acts in a mother role. Contributing the other half of a co-dependent couple, her responses to the Peter-Pan man, according to Dr. Kiley, are such conducts as overprotection, possessiveness, complaining, and "martyrdom".

The phrase has also been used as an ad hominem attack in Internet flaming in response to a woman defending her boyfriend or husband.

Recent trends

---

Although the term Peter Pan Syndrome has been widely used to describe a negative phenomenon, there has been a trend among some websites, especially blogs, to use it as a description for an iconoclastic, youthful-minded state of being. One example is Evan Bailyn's tribute to Peter Pan Syndrome.

See also

---

• Kidult

References

---

• Kiley, Dan, Dr. (1983) The Peter Pan Syndrome: Men Who Have Never Grown Up. ISBN 0396082181

External links

---

• What Is Peter Pan Syndrome by Evan Bailyn
• The Peter Pan Syndrome by J. Budziszewski
• Peter Pan Syndrome in reverse by Chris Wayan

Peter Pan | Psychological conditions

Peter-Pan-Syndrom | Syndrome de Peter Pan | Peter Pan-syndroom