permessivo

Permessivo is an Italian adjective meaning permissive or lenient; it describes attitudes, policies, or environments that tolerate a broad freedom of action. The term can apply to people, institutions, or rules, and it often carries a neutral sense of breadth of latitude, with a potential positive or negative connotation depending on context.

It derives from the noun permesso, permission, with the suffix -ivo. It is related to the concept of permission and allowance; its etymology traces back to Latin permittere through Italian development.

In everyday language it can describe a person who tends to yield to others' demands, or a policy that imposes few constraints. In political or educational discourse, it is often contrasted with more stringent or controlling approaches.

In psychology and education, "stile permessivo" or "stile permissivo" designates a parenting style characterized by high responsiveness and warmth but low demandingness; children may display greater autonomy but potentially weaker self-regulation and impulse control. The term is usually paired with other descriptors such as "stile autoritativo" (authoritative) and "stile autoritario" (authoritarian).

Nuance: the word can have a critical tone when excessive permissiveness is seen as undermining discipline or standards; in other contexts it can simply denote tolerance or openness.