I came across an interesting article on a syndrome called Peter Pan Syndrome, the existence of adults shunning responsibility like it's going out of style. Understandably, it got me thinking about how our society perceives growing up and what it truly means actually to be an adult. This syndrome is not diagnosed officially, although sounding very recognizable by many people, especially today.
The term Peter Pan Syndrome has been derived from the character of Peter Pan, who never wanted to grow old. In contemporary use, it refers to people who resist responsibility in adult life, mainly not being able to pay expenses by themselves and not being independent, more towards living dependent on their elders. This issue was first raised in the early 1980s when a psychologist discovered that boys in their teens were reluctant to enter adulthood. They felt alienated from others, they were narcissistic and had an almost innate desire to be successful without putting in the necessary effort actually to achieve success.
As I reflect on this syndrome, the first thing that comes to mind is the changing face of adulthood. In the past, the transition into young adulthood was noted with classical identity markers such as marriage, homeownership, and parenthood. These modern-day identity markers have been postponed for economic pressure and social change. This does not essentially give one the Peter Pan Syndrome but instead depicts modern adulthood in a complicated way.
What most amazes me about Peter Pan Syndrome is that it simply reflects broader changes within society. Culture has changed a lot over the years, and young adult expectations also changed. These classical indicators of adulthood are hard to achieve nowadays, so very many confused young people get stuck between adolescence and actual adulthood. This can be confusing and discouraging, especially when the expectations of society still want young people to hit these milestones.
It was noted in the article that Professor Melek Kalkan had developed a Peter Pan Syndrome Scale. This is a 22-item survey that attempts to measure the level of expression that leads to traits of Peter Pan Syndrome. Statements on the survey include "Being an adult is scary" and "I feel stuck between childhood and adulthood," by which one is asked to indicate how much they agree. This tool can be very instrumental in picking out individuals who will require additional support on their way through transition to adulthood.
Reading about this scale made me view the necessity of tools for understanding and illuminating these feelings. Peter Pan Syndrome doesn't have a presence in official diagnostic handbooks, but realization can be helpful, allowing targeted interventions to help people with grown-up responsibilities. And it is time to act early, changing the lives of so many young adults still overwhelmed by the thought of growing up.
Another exciting relation here is the analogy with Cinderella Syndrome, a term for women who require dependency upon a partner. The concept of said syndrome would emphasize the differences in ways that both men and women cope with their issues in adulthood. In contrast to Peter Pan Syndrome, described as responsibility evasion, Cinderella Syndrome seeks safety in running home to someone else, still dependent, albeit in a different way. In either case, these reflect deep-seated fears and social pressures that influence our attitude toward growing up.