What is Peter Pan Syndrome?
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. Peter Pan Syndrome in laymans language can be called an overgrown child. But it is far more complicated as people suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome can be insensitive towards others needs, doesnt want to work or make concrete long-term plans and want to live for the moment, Maanwi Sharma, a Gurgaon-based clinical psychologist, told Indiatoday.in. Sharma said, This syndrome can be confused with narcissistic or antisocial behaviour as they cant express empathy and are impulsive in behaviour, can be addicted to alcohol. They can be aggressive and can act in an inappropriate way. But they can be dealt well in a playful way to conduct their daily routine.  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. Peter Pan, the central character in the play, is a mischievous boy who can fly and is known for adventures on a fictitious island called Neverland. In his book, Island, Huxley remarked, Thirty or forty million deaths and heaven knows how many billions of dollarsthat was the price the world had to pay for little Adolf's retarded maturation.  But the term, Peter Pan Syndrome was introduced by Dan Kiley in his book, Peter Pan Syndrome: Men Who Have Never Grown Up, published in 1983. American superstar Michael Jackson was a self-proclaimed Peter Pan and had named his property in California where he lived as Neverland Ranch. As this is not a medically accepted syndrome, there is no agreed definition of this psychological condition. However, the Bombay High Court accepted the argument of the defence counsel and granted bail to the rape accused. The accused was known to the minor girl and the defence counsel said that their families too were known to one another. The lawyer argued that the act was consensual in nature. The court in its bail order observed that the girl despite being minor had sufficient knowledge and capacity to know the full impact of what she was doing. Huxley identified a Peter Pan as somebody who is hopeless at school incapable either of competing or co-operating [and envying all the normally successful boys. READ | UP womans live-in partner arrested under anti-conversion law, rape charge