Age Regression

Not to be confused with "inner child", a term used in analytical psychology, or little, a descriptor of permanent internal ageundefined:

Age regression occurs when someone reverts to a childlike state of mind, often as a coping mechanism due to trauma, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.

Age regression is also often done voluntarily for fun, and it can also be done as a stress reliever.

Some age regressors like to use child-like objects such as bottles and pacifiers, as well as enjoy partaking in activities such as drawing and playing with children’s toys. Those that age regress slip into a mindset known as littlespace.

Age regression can be experienced by both singlets and systems, and is not exclusive to any specific age range.

History
The phenomenon of regression may have been described in a psychological context as early as 1815, and was explored more in-depth in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Regression has been described over time as dysfunctional, a coping mechanism, and a deliberate therapeutic tool. It was addressed and defined by psychologists such as S. Freud, A. Freud, Jung, Bradshaw, Ferenczi, and Balint.

While Jung mentions both the Inner Child and Regression as normal phenomena and talks about their importance in therapeutic progress, he does not equate the two.

Related Terms
Pet regression refers to regressing to a non-human animal mindset.

Age sliding refers to headmates whose age changed somewhat frequently.

Age progression may be considered an antonym.

Isomorphic regression can restore a facet to a specific age, but not necessarily always to the past.

Memory regression is regression to a previous state of memories.

View regression is regression to a preview set of views or beliefs.