How is Peter Pan syndrome treated in psychotherapy?

The process of adaptation to the stages of life is one of the most complex psychological phenomena. Not surprisingly, growing and maturing psychologically is much more than improving certain skills and developing new ones; It is also making our own the roles that the society in which we live reserves for people of certain age groups… and this, at times, is quite a challenge.

In certain cases, the person is reluctant to accept the kind of behavior patterns expected of someone her age, and decides to use only by those that allow you to access sources of short-term satisfaction, but without assuming those that involve a certain level of effort and dedication extra. When this occurs in adults, what is known as Peter Pan syndrome arises, and in this article we will see how it is approached in psychological therapy.

• Related article: "The 9 stages of the life of human beings"

What is Peter Pan syndrome?

Despite its name, Peter Pan syndrome it is not a psychopathology nor is it part of a clinical picture, something that does occur with certain diseases such as schizophrenia.

It is, basically, a set of behavior patterns that, in the life context of most of the adults, it is problematic and causes discomfort to the person who internalizes it and / or to the people of their environment. Specifically, it consists of the tendency to reject any role that involves taking responsibility and making commitments, being an adult.

Hence, it is often understood that people who have developed this predisposition have remained anchored in a style of behavior typical of boys and girls, by wanting to live in society and have the protection offered by their close social circle, but without having to invest effort in cultivating those relationships and making a good coexistence.

This reference to Peter Pan is a way of linking this phenomenon with the idea of ​​a child who does not want to grow up or enter the role systems of adult life, belonging forever in the land of "Neverland", as happens with the protagonist of the play by James Matthew Barrie (or his film adaptation of Disney).

Thus, people with the typical characteristics of Peter Pan syndrome tend to live a life centered on the search for emotional and material support from others, and the satisfaction of their goals in the short and medium term, otherwise adopting a passive attitude to everything that happens around him.

Some of the hallmarks of Peter Pan syndrome are as follows.

• Fear of commitment (whether formal or informal commitment)
• Frustration when the people you seek protection from don't give you everything you expect of them.
• Their behavioral referents are almost always adolescents or young adults.
• They show a clear tendency to self-centeredness, although they are capable of feeling love and empathizing.
• They are very bad at cultivating their friendships.
• His lifestyle is based on improvisation.

It must be taken into account that certain psychological disorders can be expressed through symptoms that can be confused with Peter Pan syndrome, and that diagnosis can only be made by mental health professionals. In any case, these ideas that we have seen give you a general and summarized vision of the problem.

• Related article: "The 8 benefits of going to psychological therapy"

How is the Peter Pan syndrome intervened in psychotherapy?

Although psychological therapy is always applied taking into account the particularities of each patient and adapting Techniques tailored to his needs, in general, highlight the following forms of intervention against Peter's syndrome Bread.

1. Self-awareness exercises

Various exercises are applied to help the person get to know themselves better, to understand how you often experience emotions, and discover the true source of your discomfort, identifying her in her past and in her present.

• Related article: "Self-knowledge: definition and 8 tips to improve it"

2. Training in task sequencing and time management skills

Many times, people with Peter Pan syndrome behave this way because they are so intimidated at the prospect of carrying out all the tasks associated with adult life, and they do not see themselves capable of it even though they actually have the capacity to live in a autonomous.

Therefore, in therapy they are taught what they are capable of, showing them ways to manage time well and to make the performance of tasks not only fluid, but even a source of motivation and satisfaction with oneself.

• You may be interested in: "Time management: 13 tips to take advantage of the hours of the day"

3. Identification of the needs of others

In psychotherapy it is also help these people to get out of that mentality marked by egocentricity, making it more likely that ideas related to the mental state of others come to mind. Once this happens, in most cases the concern for the well-being of these people arises spontaneously.

• Related article: "Egocentric Personality: 15 Characteristic Traits"

4. Improved self-esteem

These people are guided through this process of psychological maturation, allowing them to be aware of their progress in order to assess and incorporate them into their esteem. In this way, become much more confident in their ability to live as adults.

Looking for psychotherapy services?

If you are interested in having psychotherapeutic assistance with all the guarantees, get in touch with our team of professionals.

On Advance Psychologists She has been treating patients for more than two decades, and currently we offer face-to-face psychotherapy (in our center in Madrid) and also online therapy. In addition, we also have specialists in the areas of speech therapy, sexology, neuropsychology and psychiatry.