Undefined Boundaries: The Lasting Impact of Early Childhood Development

The absence of clear limits and the lack of established responsibility during childhood and adolescence can leave a mark throughout one’s life. It is crucial to define behavioral boundaries in early years, as these help a child organize their inner world, learn to accept the consequences of their actions, and progress toward maturity. If this stage passes without an emphasis on personal responsibility and a conscious attitude toward the surrounding world, the habits characteristic of youth can become ingrained for life.

The issue lies not so much in age as in the methods of upbringing used in families and educational institutions. Early education with blurred rules contributes to a situation where a person, even as they grow older, does not get the chance to shed their youthful characteristics. The lack of a constructive experience in overcoming egocentrism allows the habits of the child’s world to persist, which subsequently leads to shifting the responsibility for actions onto others. Consequently, growing up becomes a complex process, where the experience and internal understanding of responsibility have not yet taken their rightful place in the individual’s consciousness.

In conclusion, a thoughtful and structured approach to early education can be the key to overcoming internal barriers successfully and transitioning to a more mature stage of life. Establishing clear personal boundaries and developing a sense of responsibility helps one boldly step into adult life while leaving behind the underdeveloped traits of adolescent perception.

Why do some adults retain traits of adolescent perception and behavior?
Some adults continue to exhibit traits of adolescent perception and behavior because the journey from childhood to full-fledged adulthood is not always smooth. If clear family boundaries are not established and the propensity to take responsibility for one’s actions is not formed during the process of growing up, certain aspects of the youthful world will continue to influence the adult personality. In other words, when the process of overcoming egocentrism and forming a conscious attitude toward reality—the features characteristic of the adolescent period—is not adequately "practiced" in childhood or adolescence, a person may retain habits typical for that age.

For example, according to one source:

"These children grow up and continue to remain children at heart. Efforts to deal with persistent forms of irresponsible behavior begin as early as in school; however, the essence of the problem lies in the upbringing itself. A child who has not transitioned to the adult stage fundamentally shifts the responsibility for their actions onto their surroundings. It appears that one of the reasons for this is overly lenient parenting and the failure to define clear behavioral boundaries within the family." (source: link )

This quote emphasizes that if there were not strict and clear behavioral boundaries during childhood and adolescence, the upbringing may have failed to ensure a proper transition to adult responsibility. Another echo of this idea is seen in the observation that growing up is often associated with the suppression of childish traits. If a person "enters into greater experiences for which they are internally unprepared," then earlier patterns of behavior may persist even in adulthood, leading to the retention of adolescent characteristics.

Thus, the roots of this phenomenon may lie in the peculiarities of upbringing, the insufficient establishment of personal boundaries at an early age, and the fact that the individual never fully completed the “lessons” required for a mature and responsible approach to life.

Supporting citation(s):
"These children grow up and continue to remain children at heart. Efforts to deal with persistent forms of irresponsible behavior begin as early as in school; however, the essence of the problem lies in the upbringing itself. A child who has not transitioned to the adult stage fundamentally shifts the responsibility for their actions onto their surroundings. It appears that one of the reasons for this is overly lenient parenting and the failure to define clear behavioral boundaries within the family." (source: link )

"In a certain sense, growing up happens through the suppression of childish traits. It is by no means a given that this is a positive phenomenon. A person embarks on greater experiences for which they are internally unprepared." (source: link )