Giant infant[1] (Chinese: 巨婴 or 巨嬰), spelled 'ju ying' in Hanyu Pinyin,[2] alternatively translated as giant baby, is a Chinese buzzword that originally denotes a baby of giant size,[3] but is now generally used to describe a psychologically immature adult.[4] The term was first used by Chinese consulting psychologist Wu Zhihong in 2016 in his book titled A Country of Giant Infants.[5]
| Chinese | 巨婴 or 巨嬰 |
|---|---|
| Exact meaning | A "grown-up infant" |
| Origin | A Country of Giant Infants |
In A Country of Giant Infants, the concept refers to a "grown-up baby" who is physically an adult, but whose mental development is still at the level of an infant before the age of one.[6] The nation formed by these giant babies is called the "Giant Baby Nation".[7]
These "giant infants" are afflicted with a range of mental disorders – anxiety, depression, paranoia, persecution mania, feelings of helplessness.[8] They are formed unconsciously. Being taken care of is not the most important characteristic of a giant infant, but rather the lack of opportunity to become an independent individual.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Helen Gao (2017-08-09). "China's Giant Infants". The New York Times.
- ^ "The final word". Week In China. Dec 14, 2018.
- ^ "Feel the social and cultural pulse from buzzwords". People's Daily. 2018-12-11.
- ^ "A "giant baby" is not a "baby"". Liberty Times. 2019-05-01.
- ^ "'Grown-up babies' harmful to social harmony". China Daily. 2018-12-07.
- ^ "Some adults are still babies psychologically". Apple Daily. 2018-09-19.
- ^ "The book "Giant Baby Nation" is prohibited". Apple Daily. 2018-09-14.
- ^ "China's giant babies". The Economist. Feb 23, 2017.
- ^ Zhang Yan (2017-01-13). "Interview with Wu Zhihong". Initium Media.