ABSTRACT
In Chapter 2 the question of the applicability of Erikson’s ideas of identity to all adolescents, regardless of gender and social context, was discussed. How significant are these differences on identity development? One writer, Kiell (1967) had no doubts, asserting: ‘It is my thesis that the great internal turmoil and external disorder of adolescence are universal and only moderately affected by cultural determinants’ (p. 9). He gathered a range of accounts, going back to the times of Classical Greece, to illustrate consistent themes, such as sexual awakening, the first love, peer culture, the influence of charismatic teachers and intellectual development.
