ABSTRACT
THE early years of a man’s life must be seen in the context of his time. These early years undoubtedly have as much influence on the formation of his disposition as the general character of his time has. Before the influences of a period impinge on consciousness, the individual exists in a restricted milieu of emotions, encounters and events that seem to have but an individual importance. Yet this is so only in appearance. In times of cultural unrest, a child’s life follows a different course from one that it would follow in a period of stability, though this applies only to the majority and important differences between groups and individuals will always exist. Modern psychology, which is mainly interested in the study of disturbed balance in modern man, does not lay great stress on influences in youth for no purpose. These influences are decisive in that the conflicts to which they give rise work themselves out, constantly reinforced by the general atmosphere of society, in the unconscious (though outwardly they may not be apparent). And conversely, the conflicts of youth are directly linked with conflicts that arise later in that they are already partly the outcome of the general unrest which forcibly affects life and education.
