It's not Bush & Co's Fault... See: " Immaturity Level Rising in Adults"

[KeepItReal]

"New research is showing that grown-ups are more immature than ever. From the article: "Specifically, it seems a growing number of people are retaining the behaviors and attitudes associated with youth. As a consequence, many older people simply never achieve mental adulthood, according to a leading expert on evolutionary psychiatry.""

http://science.slashdot.org/science/06/06/25/0456237.shtml

:eyes:

[akushuki]

1. At least it was written with quotes from an evolutionary psychiatrist and

not Pat Robertson.

[niyad]

3. welcome to DU--and you are so right.

[slor]

2. That would explain the number...

of people that voted for the chimp.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. Chihuahua-ization of humans????

Nothing against darling Chihuahua Dogs -- I have one.

BUT . . . humans tend to bred juvenile characteristics in domesticated animals.

Archaeologists who study early human habitation -- can determine when humans started keeping and domesticating animals by the steady change of the shape of the animal's heads. Domestic animals heads become more rounded (Chihuahua head is a perfect example) -- and the behavior retained is more juvenile in comparison to the wild version (for example the wolf with sharper angles and cures in their heads).

bushie is by all accounts a sub-juvenile -- in his behavior, interests (or lack of interests) and in his use of language.

There is a whole field of research with Zoo and Archeology in the name -- plus several books on the subject -- and if I remember correctly a few journals and lots of journal articles.

[Erika]

7. Is that why W has always reminded me of a small yapper

He grabs onto the pantlegs and never lets go. You keep trying to shake him off, but he won't let go.

[laststeamtrain]

5. Adultescence

I think it was added to some dictionaries a few years back.

[BeyondGeography]

6. It basically says modern capitalism keeps you silly

since you have to absorb lots of little bits of information and fit it to ever changing business circumstances, pretend you're up to date on every goddamned trend and look as youthful as possible for as long as possible.

I think there's a lot of truth to all that. You don't hear the phrase "growing old gracefully" much anymore.

[global1]

8. Just Remember - You're Only Young Once - But You Can Be .....

immature all your life.

[pinto]

10. great line.

[gumby]

9. My Youthful Exuberance

causes me to conclude that article is a bunch-o-crap.

Yeah, David Brooks sure has a handle on the human experience...NOT!!

Education + flexibility = childish mentality?

What leads to childish mentality is fundamentalism and 'conservatism.' Can a country exhibit any more childish behavior than its foremost deliberative body repeatedly focusing on altering its founding document over flag burning?

If you want to see infantilization in practice, listen to Rush Limbaugh. His entire program is an exercise in presenting 9th grade emotionalism as grown up 'conservatism.'

[NMMNG]

15. I have to agree with you there

The ability and willingness to keep learning is indicative of immaturity? :wtf:



What leads to childish mentality is fundamentalism and 'conservatism.'

Indeed! What could be more childish and immature than profound inability to tolerate change, refusal to learn things outside your paradigm, and distrust of anybody/anything different from you?

[ninkasi]

11. I read an article once

and I don't remember where, that modern dogs retain the same characteristics as juvenile wolves. The theory was that when man and wolf first responded to each other, the wolf who retained babyish traits was the one humans related to, and wanted to take into the family group.

Adult wolves were more threatening, but wolf cubs were cute, and people felt the need to protect the young, the cubs. I have no idea whether this is true or not, but it makes sense. If it is the case, then it just stands to reason that there is some evolutionary dictate that is being followed when we humans can't mature.

[OneBlueSky]

12. just look at who's running the country . . . case closed . . . n/t

.

[Doc_Technical]

13. When Christy brinkley married Billy Joel 20+ years ago.....

she made the same observation about most men: "that they were large little boys",

while Billy acted like a "man."

[Skidmore]

14. Made easier by a society willing to furnish people with all the toys

they want for as long as they live, while holding out the promise of eternal youth. It is sad that we, as a nation, have lost respect for age and the mature mind. It really is.