From the author: Description, as well as a brief comparison of mental infantilism and “kidalism”. Phenomena that are on different theoretical planes of psychopathology and sociology, however, are closely intertwined in everyday life. Let's try to figure out how to determine the line between these two concepts and whether one is a continuation of the other. The concepts of “infantilism” (or infantilism, as a characteristic) and “kidalta” (short for the English kid - child and English adult - adult) have been around for several decades. The first, of course, is much older, and consequently studied, was first named by Ernest Lasegue in 1864, much later Lasegue’s “infantility” was transformed into the “psychological infantilism” already known to us. The term “kidalt” became recognizable not at all thanks to psychological or psychiatric publications, but came from the pen of a journalist in The New York Times magazine in 1985. The primary difference in what is hidden behind these concepts is the different areas of their use. It is difficult to call “kidalta” a separate phenomenon, since it does not have a sufficient number of specific characteristics of the psyche. “Kidalt” is a phenomenon that belongs rather to the field of work of sociologists and marketers, while infantilism is even included in the ICD-10, in the section of personality disorders (F60.8x Other specific personality disorders). From the point of view of psychopathology, mental infantilism - immaturity of the individual with a predominant lag in the development of the emotional-volitional sphere and the preservation of childhood personality traits. Typically, this term refers to fairly gross personality changes that are within the competence of a psychiatrist and are considered within the framework of various mental illnesses. Using “infantility” in psychology, we are talking rather about its socially acceptable manifestations, those that do not maladapt, but make adjustments to lifestyle and views. For comparison with “kids,” I will give abbreviated characteristics of infantile personality traits in the understanding of psychology: 1) The desire to manipulate. This is great for a child who does not know how to clearly and reasonably express his needs and desires. The child is selfish, he demands everything immediately and does not take into account the capabilities of an adult because he simply does not understand them. An adult manipulator, if he intends to influence another, first of all takes into account the desires and capabilities of the other in order to generate in him intentions and actions that can realize his plans. The schemes are more complex, the goals are the same...2) Dependence, lack of independence. We can understand a 15-year-old teenager who lives with his family, but a 35-year-old uncle who shares living space with his parents looks at least strange. We should also not forget about moral and emotional dependence. These are examples when territorial separation did occur (by some miracle), but psychological separation did not. 3) Social comparison. In the process of development, the child is subject to comparison, faced with envy or pride. Gradually, the comparison moves inward and we no longer compare ourselves with others, but compare ourselves with our past selves. Still, from time to time we encounter envy and pride, but as long as they are motivation or reward and do not poison existence, there is nothing terrible in them. 4) Ruthlessness and cruelty towards others, inability to sympathize, to understand the state of another. At first, children do not understand adults well, their egoism is ferocious, they are aware only of their own needs. Getting carried away with a game and ignoring a parent's/relative's request for help is quite natural, until you are stuck at the computer for ten hours or disappear at a party for a couple of days. 5) Fear of responsibility. A child is simply not capable of being responsible for another person, just as an adult infant cannot cope with such a difficult task, and when faced with such a situation, he experiences the whole gamut of horror and hastily retreats. Speaking about scams, it is impossible not to remember the hero of James Barry - Peter Pan, as well as "a man in.