https://www.reddit.com/r/AskWomen/comments/1i9e36a/what_is_the_difference_between_immaturity_and/
created by AdTotal7475 on 25/01/2025 at 03:33 UTC
142 upvotes, 35 top-level comments (showing 25)
Comment by BumblebeeOfCarnage at 25/01/2025 at 05:24 UTC
332 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Immaturity: low emotional intelligence, lack of situational awareness
Kid at heart: not embarrassed to get goofy and have fun
Comment by Creepy_Performer7706 at 25/01/2025 at 03:56 UTC
133 upvotes, 1 direct replies
immaturity: lack of responsibility ( for example, not turning up to a meeting because you decide to play online games)
being a kid at heart: enjoying online games
Comment by Kkatiand at 25/01/2025 at 03:40 UTC
505 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Understand context.
Making a dick joke with your friends? Kid at heart. Dick joke at your corporate job? Immature.
Being playful and tickling with your partner while watching tv? Kid at heart. While having an argument or at a funeral? Immature.
Comment by Louisianimal09 at 25/01/2025 at 05:01 UTC
79 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Understanding that there’s a time and place for all that.
I’ll shoot my husband with nerf darts all day, I’m not about to pop one of my patients who’s recovering from a liver transplant though.
Comment by D4ngerD4nger at 25/01/2025 at 05:53 UTC
57 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Being a kid at heart: the kid is a valued counselor that the adult listens to
Being immature : the kid calls the shots
Comment by Photogroxii at 25/01/2025 at 09:04 UTC
29 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Emotional intelligence makes the difference.
Immature people are emotionally stunted and think the world revolves around them and cannot handle mature conversations or a difference of opinions.
Being a child at heart is being able to be emotionally mature but also knowing how to have fun.
Comment by StrongFreeBrave at 25/01/2025 at 13:27 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Immature = refuses to grow up. No emotional intelligence, it's always everyone else's fault for how their life is, doesn't want to deal with adult things because 'its not fun', doesn't think about future/long-term things/goals, impulsive always needing quick dopamine hits, etc.
Kid at heart = can be silly or playful, laugh at themselves, adaptable or open to new things, still a curiosity about life/things. Can counter balance fun with when to be serious.
Comment by angstyaspen at 25/01/2025 at 07:40 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It’s a matter of time and place.
Comment by Shiny_personality at 25/01/2025 at 06:36 UTC
11 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Husband and I do all what it takes to take care of our family, but we also play like kids, with our sons in the parks, watch cartoons and play video games when we have time.
Comment by Nearby_Pea_9121 at 25/01/2025 at 09:11 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
There’s a right time and place for everything
Comment by Duelonna at 25/01/2025 at 06:29 UTC
25 upvotes, 0 direct replies
For example, a 2year old might start to hit you. But 9/10 its not because of wanting to hurt you, its because they are confused about the feeling they are feeling, have no clue how to deal with it yet, and often just mimic without knowing that it hurts.
It becomes immaturity when you should know already all these basics and still don't use that knowledge. From making fun of people and continuing when asked to stop, to hitting someone when you are not agreeing with how they see something.
The problem in here does is that time between todler and adults, because a kid/teen would already know a lot, but not yet everything. Making it that adults sometimes assume the kid knows, but doesn't yet, to the kid knowing and still doing it. And definitely with the last one, left unspoken, creates immaturity with adults
Comment by nevertruly at 25/01/2025 at 13:39 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Understanding context, impact, and having emotional intelligence and consideration for others.
Comment by Echolmmediate5251 at 25/01/2025 at 17:59 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
To me being a kid at heart means you can still find wonder and enjoyment out of day to day life. You can be goofy and enjoy simple pleasures. Ex: hunting for sand crabs at the beach, finding a rock in nature beautiful, laughing when you stumble, not caring how you look when you dance, wanting to ride a big rollercoaster, wanting to go to a planetarium….
Immaturity is not being able to handle the adult world- manners, holding down a job, disregard for others.
My dad was the perfect example. He was the hardest working man I’ve ever known and was the type to pour his OT money into paying off a debt quickly and then driving the same truck for 15-20 years (until it literally fell apart) but if my brother or I approached him with “dad. Can we build a mediaeval mace?” his eyes would go out in either direction and he’d whisk us away to his workshop to start building it before we could blink. He also taught me how to make a flame thrower with hairspray and would be standing next to me asking my mom to let me keep a stray dog I found.
Comment by Apathethic_squid at 25/01/2025 at 17:04 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Immature- lack of responsibility, expects others to solve problems for them, waits for life to happen instead of making it happen
Kid at heart- a person who doesn’t give up playfulness, games or childhood hobbies just because they’re physically adult
Comment by j4321g4321 at 25/01/2025 at 14:32 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Time and place. Being a kid at heart means being silly and having fun when it’s appropriate. Being immature means not taking things seriously when you should be.
Comment by norfnorf832 at 25/01/2025 at 14:57 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Being a kid at heart is collecting hot wheels at 50 or some shit. Being immature is still getting in fist fights with strangers at 50.
Comment by salamanderJ at 25/01/2025 at 16:56 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
A. Being able to handle frustration. You don't throw a temper tantrum when things don't go the way you want.
B. Reckoning on consequences. You can be a kid at heart, playful, but, even when ready to give in to an impulse, or do something on the spur of the moment, aware enough of the situation, perhaps because of prior experience, to check yourself when you realize things might get out of hand.
Comment by still_on_a_whisper at 25/01/2025 at 17:25 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Immaturity is not being able to care for yourself independently (unless you have a legit reason like a mental disability that makes your mental age lower than it should be or a physical disability). I’ve met 21/22 year olds who leech off others cuz they’re “young at heart” and it’s like nah, you’re just immature and lazy.
Being a true kid at heart is being able to find humor in things and not being so serious all the time.
Comment by ominoke at 25/01/2025 at 18:18 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Knowing that there's a time and place to be childish
Comment by Hello_Hangnail at 25/01/2025 at 20:12 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Knowing when it's time to be an adult, be responsible and have integrity. Being a kid at heart doesn't necessarily mean you're an overgrown, immature person.
Comment by ShylieF at 26/01/2025 at 02:20 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Knowing when, where, and how long it's ok to act like a kid. At home with the kids, friends or S/O is cool to be goofy and loud, but if you're sitting with your S/O and you can't restrain yourself from poking, tickling, jump-scaring or grabbing them, well past the time they asked you to stop- that's just immature.
Comment by Lobo9498 at 26/01/2025 at 04:47 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Knowing when to act mature, and when to be a kid. Know the surroundings and circumstances.
Comment by transgenicmouse at 25/01/2025 at 19:07 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Empathy and the ability to make choices that account for the people around you
Comment by Logical-Mom at 26/01/2025 at 23:49 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Immature: self- centered; Impulsive behavior; difficult handling criticispm, poor impulse control; lack of empathy.
Comment by [deleted] at 25/01/2025 at 11:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
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