Which phrase best defines infantilization in media discourse?

• A. To praise as heroic
• B. To treat or condescend to as if still a young child
• C. To celebrate aging
• D. To critique harshly

Answer: (B)

Infantilization in media discourse is about treating people as if they were children, using a patronizing tone that diminishes their autonomy and treats them as naive or dependent. The phrase that captures this idea describes treating or condescending to someone as if they were still a young child, which is exactly the dynamic at play: a speaker or writer portrays the subject in a way that undermines adult agency and implies they can’t handle complex issues on their own.

Praising someone as heroic implies admiration for their actions, which doesn’t inherently involve patronizing infantilism. Celebrating aging focuses on positive or respectful views about getting older, not on condescending behavior. Critiquing harshly is about evaluation and judgment, not about treating the subject as if they were a child.