Maturity implies that an individual, animal or plant has reached its final stage of growth. Anyone who has not yet reached this stage is immature. When it involves physical development, that's easy to grasp, but what does it mean to be emotionally immature?
The American Psychological Association defines emotional maturity as “a high and appropriate level of emotional control and expression.” Emotional immaturity, however, is “a tendency to express feelings uninhibitedly or out of proportion to the situation.” In other words, emotional behavior that's uncontrolled or inappropriate to the situation could be viewed as immature. It is more just like the emotional reactions one would expect from a toddler than an adult.
People who're emotionally immature don't meet society's expectations of social behavior for his or her age group. It is secure to assume that an adult will give you the option to think about their impact on others and concentrate to their feelings. Emotionally mature people can accept criticism and learn from it. Adults with emotional maturity may take into consideration and plan for the long run. However, individuals with emotional immaturity struggle with this stuff.
Emotionally immature people lack certain emotional and social skills and have difficulty referring to other adults. Some behaviors can signal that you simply are coping with an emotionally immature person:
Impulsive behavior. Children are sometimes impulsive. They speak out of line or touch things they shouldn't touch. They say things without fascinated about how they affect other people. Over time, people learn to not do such things. Emotionally immature adults haven't learned to regulate their impulses. They act in unpredictable or antisocial ways.
Demanding attention. Small children get bored in case you don't pay them attention. They will do things to bring the main target back to themselves, even when it means behaving negatively. Emotionally immature adults often do the identical thing. They may not behave negatively, but they might butt in on conversations or make inappropriate jokes to get everyone's attention.
Insults and bullying. In general, adults don't resort to schoolyard tactics when interacting with other adults. It's rare to see two adults calling one another mean names. Someone who acts like a mean boy in school just isn't using sophisticated emotional tactics. Instead, they depend on childish temper tantrums.
Avoidance. Emotionally immature people may not have sense of the long run or know learn how to plan for it. Refusal to tackle necessary responsibilities resembling committed relationships, careers, or investments resembling home ownership is an indication of shirking responsibility. People like these may allow themselves to be cared for by others far beyond the extent to which they must be self-sufficient. This is typically called Peter Pan syndrome, after the fictional character who never desired to grow up.
narcissism. A key aspect of maturity is the flexibility to take into consideration other people's needs and feelings. Immature people appear to only care about themselves. They don't like compromises and don't wish to take other people's ideas into consideration. They all the time wish to go their very own way.
If you're attempting to navigate a relationship with an emotionally immature person, there are a couple of things you possibly can do to defuse the situation. Working to resolve the situation might help prevent negative effects in your mental health and reduce stress.
Communicate. A primary step is to speak truthfully but sensitively about their behavior. You can indicate how their words or actions made you are feeling and ask them to be more sensitive in the long run. You might have to repeat this conversation greater than once. It takes time to learn latest emotional patterns.
Be positive. If the person behaves in a way that seems mature and sincere, praise them for it. Positive reinforcement is a strong tool for promoting growth. Parents often do that to encourage certain behaviors in young children. Adults also respond positively to praise.
Adjust. You may try to regulate your individual expectations, inside reason after all. Not everyone will change, but you possibly can change the way you reply to others. You can learn their patterns and find ways across the problematic behaviors.
You may not give you the option to smooth over a relationship with an emotionally immature person on your individual. If that's the case, find someone who can assist you with this. A family counselor or couples therapist can assist you and your beloved develop a more positive relationship with one another.
If the emotionally immature person in your life is a coworker, try talking to someone in HR in regards to the situation. They may give you the option to assist you find more constructive ways to work together.
People can grow and alter. If someone you care about is emotionally immature, you might give you the option to assist them act more like an adult. If they don't want to alter, discuss with a counselor about learn how to take care of yourself when coping with an emotionally immature person.