Explained Peter Pan Syndrome as rape accused gets bail from Bombay High Court

Peter Pan Syndrome is a psychological condition that is used to describe an adult — more in men than women — who is socially immature.

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to a 23-year-old rape accused. The man allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. The ground on which the Bombay High Court granted bail was that the accused suffered from a psychological condition known as Peter Pan Syndrome. Peter Pan Syndrome is a psychological condition that is used to describe an adult — more in men than women — who is socially immature. The term was coined by psychologist Dan Kiley to explain the behaviour of such men who ‘refuse to grow’ and behave their age. The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not recognise Peter Pan Syndrome in its list of mental illnesses. The term has its origin in literature, a play called Peter and Wendy by Scottish playwright JM Barrie, who wrote this play in 1904 and a novel by the same name in 1911.