Infantilization is when an adult is being treated like a child, even though nothing about their mental, physical, social, or intellectual wellbeing requires such treatment. It can often happen with highly controlling parents, or a narcissistic parent who continues to believe that they are superior in knowledge, intellect and ability than their fully functioning, adult child/children. Without knowing it, these adult children can also be participating in this unhelpful dynamic by not adequately self-differentiating in their adult life. This dynamic is also a sign of a codependent/narcissistic dynamic in a relationship where each person is playing out their respective role.
