ABSTRACT

Adolescence and adolescent states of mind have seldom captured so much attention publicly, nor have they stirred so much anxiety and disturbance privately. This long acknowledged, problematic, transitional world between childhood and adulthood is especially fraught, these days, with the assaults and pressures of contemporary culture and modern technology.

The heart of the book lies in the exploration of the inner lives of these young people, whether or not they find their way to clinical services. It sets out to illuminate the sorts of things that go wrong, and how we can help to address them – the crises of identity, gender, loss, self-harm, bullying, depression, anger, suicidal impulses, anxiety, and so much more. On Adolescence: Inside Stories is intended for all those concerned with adolescence, and adolescent states of mind at whatever age or stage.

part I|27 pages

Context and Background

chapter One|12 pages

Historical context

chapter Two|13 pages

Internal worlds

part II|84 pages

Aspects of the Adolescent Experience

chapter Three|15 pages

Adolescence

chapter Five|17 pages

Models of learning

chapter Six|15 pages

Groups and gangs

chapter Seven|20 pages

The psychodynamics of bullying

part III|88 pages

Clinical Pictures

part IV|52 pages

Fictional Worlds

chapter Thirteen|13 pages

Adolescent fiction: the eerie and the upside down

chapter Fourteen|17 pages

Late-adolescent fictional lives

chapter Fifteen|20 pages

The green worlds of adolescent development