puerilism

[pyoo-er-uh-liz-uhm, pyoor-uh-]

noun

Psychiatry.

1. childishness in the behavior of an adult.

puerilism

/ ˈpjʊərɪˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry immature or childish behaviour by an adult

Word History and Origins

Origin of puerilism¹

First recorded in 1920–25; puerile + -ism

Example Sentences

Such reactions, though occasionally given by normal subjects, are more often given by insane ones, and seem to be somewhat characteristic of states of mental deterioration which are clinically rather loosely described as puerilism.

From Project Gutenberg