ABSTRACT
This chapter clarifies the kinds of worlds, both internal and external, that today's youngsters occupy as they negotiate the turbulent and challenging adolescent adventure of self-discovery. It describes the typical preoccupations, excitement, and anxieties of the teenager; the nature of their relationships to the older generation; their characteristic ways of defending against the intense anxiety that attends these transitional years. And the nature and impact of such defences on their relationships and on those around them—their families, their friends, and the adults who are concerned with their education and welfare. The chapter seeks to establish some clarity as to an issue that lies at the heart of the matter: that of meaning. Everyone goes through adolescence at their own speed and in their own way. But in their teens, caught between lost childhood and unrealized adulthood, these young people often experience especially conflictual, bewildering, and challenging times.
