Aspies and the Peter Pan Syndrome

Post Reply New Topic

Peter Pan Syndrome isn't a recognized psychological condition.

Whether someone is mature or not should be measured by what he/she has accomplished, not spasms of behaviour. If someone has a decent job, is independent, has a car and is capable of forming adult relationships, and especially be a good parent, then he/she is mature, even if he/she has the odd temper tantrum or a childish hobby.

I believe there are basically two kinds of Aspies:

1 - The most common kind is relatively mature but hopelessly introverted, i.e. the classic nerd.

2 - However, some Aspies (like me before my Autism dramatically improved) are quite extroverted, with fairly well developed social skills, but are extremely immature relative to their biological age. These Aspies are probably the nearest thing there is to real life Peter Pans. In fact, I often thought of myself, and have been described, as Peter Pan-like!

My wife read that book in the mid '80s and I took a look at it, but my own lack of growth did not stem from a lack of want.

"Kuzco Syndrome"

http://health-psych.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... drome.html

Celebrity "King" from a young age.

Moonwalking, building themeparks, hanging out with kids and animals.

"Goofing off".

Childlike behaviour.


See "Kuzco Syndrome" point above.


People seem to enjoy watching this "Peter Pan" archetype in film, music videos and pantomimes. It comes up again and again.

People miss the freedom and playful, imaginative "silliness" of childhood?

Hmm...I still firmly believe that Michael was an Aspie with a Peter Pan complex and also serious BDD. Whether or not these things were directly caused by his childhood we will never know. I think it's a mixture of genetics and environment.

I can explain what Peter Pan Syndrome is. It's when someone either doesn't want to grow up because they're terrified of the responsibilities or they simply don't want to deal with adult life, (they don't want to give up there kid lives). If you knew me really well, & I mean really well, you would see a perfect example of Peter Pan Syndrome. I am pretty sure that I am as I would call it "living proof" of Peter Pan Syndrome. Around the time I turned 18 & 19, I was told by people that I temporarily knew in my life that I had Peter Pan Syndrome. I didn't quite exactly understand it, but once I watched Peter Pan the movie, I totally related.

I hope this makes sense & answers everyones questions about Peter Pan Syndrome.

I know someone with Peter Pan Syndrome in my workplace who refuses to take responsiblity in his own life because he is afraid of taking risks and challenges.

He's been addicted to video games since the age of 13, has dropped out of college to spend more time playing games and has no direction in life other than to play games, watch movies and practice martial arts. He has incredible potential to be good as a mathematician or accountant, but his time has come and gone because of the bad decisions he made when he was younger

I would say that him having PPS is less of an AS condition and more a consequence of bad life choices.