Permissiivinen

Permissiivinen is a Finnish adjective meaning permissive, describing an attitude, approach, policy, or system that allows or tolerates a wide range of actions with relatively few restrictions or oversight. The term is used across several disciplines to indicate leniency or openness to varying behaviors or options.

In psychology and child-rearing, a permissive style is characterized by high responsiveness and warmth but low demand and control. Parents who are permissive tend to set few rules or limits, which can lead to children having fewer boundaries but sometimes weaker self-regulation or discipline. This usage is often contrasted with authoritarian (high control) and authoritative (high warmth with appropriate limits) parenting styles.

In legal, political, or organizational contexts, a permissive regime or policy is one that tolerates, decriminalizes, or substantially deregulates certain activities. Such systems rely more on guidance, social norms, or individual responsibility than on strict enforcement. Examples may include permissive zoning practices, permissive licensing, or broader allowances for certain personal freedoms, depending on the jurisdiction and issue.

In ethics and moral philosophy, permissivism is the view that there is a wide range of actions that can be morally permissible, and that moral duty is not uniquely determinate in every situation. Moral permissivism contrasts with more prescriptive theories that claim a single best or required action in given circumstances.

Etymology traces to Latin permissivus, meaning allowed or permitted, through later European language families into Finnish. The term can carry positive or negative connotations depending on context, often signaling a balance between freedom and responsibility.