[Peace-discuss] Hotwords: infantilism, paraphilia, obscurantism, obfuscate, bamboozle

[Szoke, Ron]

Hotwords  081520 
An occasional review of some terms useful in political analysis & polemics

infantilism, paraphilia, obscurantism, obfuscate, bamboozle  

INFANTILISM  n.
1. The existence of juvenile physical or psychological characteristics in an adult, as from failure to develop secondary sexual characteristics.
2.a. Marked immaturity, as in behavior or character.
b. An infantile act or remark.
3. A condition in which one desires to act or be treated like a baby, sometimes associated with a paraphilia.*  —  American Heritage® Dictionary
> 1.a. a condition in which an older child or adult is mentally or physically undeveloped
b. isolated instances of infantile behaviour in mature persons
2. childish speech; baby talk  —  Collins English Dictionary
1. the persistence in an adult of markedly childish anatomical, physiological, or psychological characteristics.
2. an infantile act, trait, etc.  — Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary
>  the condition of one who is not a child acting abnormally childlike.
[ pouting, whining, shrieking, tantrums, etc. — RSz. ] 

* PARAPHILIA
1. A condition, such as exhibitionism or masochism, in which sexual gratification is derived from activities or fantasies that are generally regarded as atypical or deviant.
2. Such a condition when it causes distress or impaired functioning in the individual or actual or potential harm to others; a paraphilic disorder. — American Heritage® Dictionary
>  (Psychiatry) any abnormal sexual behaviour; sexual anomaly or deviation
— Collins English Dictionary
the practice of, indulgence in, or addiction to unusual sexual activities. — paraphilic, adj.   See also: Sex  —Ologies & -Isms 

OBSCURANTISM   n.
1. The principles or practice of obscurants.
2. A policy of withholding information from the public.
3. a. A style in art and literature characterized by deliberate vagueness or obliqueness.
b. An example or instance of this style.
// 1. opposition to the increase and spread of knowledge.
2. deliberate obscurity or evasion of clarity.
  — Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary 
// the use of argument intended to prevent enlightenment or to hinder the process of knowledge and wisdom.

OBFUSCATE   tr.v. 
1. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: "A great effort was made ... to obscure or obfuscate the truth" (Robert Conquest).
2. To render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.
  —  American Heritage® Dictionary
  n  the act or an instance of making something obscure, dark, or difficult to understand  — Collins English Dictionary
// the process of darkening or obscuring so as to hinder ready analysis.
=> Sometimes seen on a wall plaque in days of yore: 
		ESCHEW OBFUSCATION

BAMBOOZLE  tr.v. Informal
1. To deceive or dupe; hoodwink. See Synonyms at deceive.
2. To confuse; bewilder.
— American Heritage® Dictionary
1. to cheat; mislead
2. to confuse
—  Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary
1. to deceive or get the better of by underhandedness; hoodwink.
2. to perplex; mystify.
3. to practice trickery, deception, or the like.
  —  from the online Free Dictionary by Farlex (q.v.)  
——
=> See the Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark  (1996), p. 241.
Frequently noted (by Sagan, Mark Twain & others):  It is usually far easier to con & bamboozle people than to get them to admit they have been bamboozled.   (“I’m much too smart, knowledgable & sophisticated to fall for THAT!” )

	  ~~ RSz.