ABSTRACT
Infantilization has been a central theme in discussions of politics, critical theory, public administration, sociology, and other areas. This chapter focuses on an image of a relatively powerless citizen who has been wholly socialized. Their zone of indifference has been expanded to the point where many things others might consider and possibly react to, have become both commonplace and acceptable. The archetype of infantilization mirrors the archetype of domination, with the domination archetype wielding some relative power. In psychology, infantilization often refers to situations where people who are not biologically children are treated as such. Infantilized people are seen to lack the ability to make adult decisions about their lives. The chapter also focuses on the possible combinations of ideas that emerge from the conceptual sandbox. In the context of infantilization, the functions of serving or protecting are paramount.
