We should thank psychoanalyst Dan Kiley for the term "Peter Pan Syndrome", who published a book with that title back in 1983.
It is used to describe people who are “forever young,” that is, those who have reached adulthood but are unable to cope with “adult life.” They cannot control their feelings and are unable to take responsibility for their actions, resulting in difficulties in both their personal and professional lives.
The following signs will help you identify a partner with this syndrome.
He's going to become someone.
The Peter Pan man dreams of becoming an actor, artist, musician, psychologist, pilot, or something else. He often talks about how his life will change after this dream comes true, but does nothing to achieve it. Most often, he does not agree to a "regular" job.
He is having financial problems.
"Peter Pan" constantly changes jobs, not finding a suitable one, and spends money recklessly, forgetting to pay off loans. He does not know how to control his finances and does not like to plan, believing that it is boring and only adults do it.
He is always in the company of the "toxic trio"
Alcohol, video games and adult films are the constant companions of such men. They need these “additions” to disconnect from reality and avoid intimacy.
He is unreliable
A partner with this syndrome is unreliable: even if he promises, he will not meet you at the airport or accompany you to the doctor. And then he will start to devalue your problems, convincing you that they are not so significant.
He has an excuse for everything.
He had problems: his cat got sick, his neighbors flooded the kitchen, his mother asked him to come over and give him an injection, and his boss made him work on the weekend. So he couldn't fulfill his obligations and keep his promises. And although he understands that this creates inconvenience for others, he believes that he has the right to leniency, since the situation was beyond his control.
