Kidulting as a social phenomenon

The study analyzes such social factors behind kidulting as the transformation of the family institution, de-emphasis of the traditional system of higher education, changing role and effects of religion, global gamification of the society, consumer behavior as a way of denoting one’s social status, massification and mediatization of the individual and its daily practices, popularization and legitimation of the inner child concept among the adults. The authors reveal the differences between kidulting and social infantilism. The research describes the main characteristics of the kidult’s psychosociotype. They include the reduced level of responsibility for life decisions; difficulties in making choices in the system of values and determining the priorities for one’s life activities; low reflection of social reality; special identification process based on identifying and associating oneself with younger age groups; life-through-game principle as one of the leading mechanisms of socialization. In addition, the paper highlights the social risks of kidulting.