Giant Baby Syndrome in Chinese College Students

Abstract

The term “giant baby” became popular among Chinese people after Zhihong Wu’s book The Country of ‘Giant Babies’: A Domestic Psychologist Examining the Chinese National Character was published. An adult who fits this description is considered to be cognitively and psychologically immature. Researchers have discovered that this condition, known as “Giant Babies,” also affects the educational system, as some students’ psychological growth lags behind their physical development. This article outlined the behavioral traits of giant baby symptoms among Chinese college students, such as excessive reliance on others, egocentrism, and bigotry, and explained the underlying causes from the perspective of school education in an effort to pinpoint pertinent issues with Chinese education and provide recommendations for the development and education of more socially mature talents.