ABSTRACT
Most writers on adolescence see the central developmental task at this stage in life as being the gradual attainment of personal independence. Erikson (1968), whose work has been particularly influential, describes this as ‘identity formation’, and views the adolescent as engaged in a gradual emotional separation and detachment from his parents. He believes (although there is little systematic evidence for this) that the young person may, because of his uncertainty about his new role, experience an ‘identity crisis’ which can lead to apparently maladaptive behaviour patterns. Blos (1962; 1967) whose viewpoint is somewhat similar, sees adolescence as a process of ‘individuation’, in which the young person takes increasing responsibility for what he does, rather than placing this on the shoulders of others, in particular on the family. The role of the parents in this context has been discussed by Framrose (1977) who considers that their ‘capacity for readjustment and change …has an important influence on adolescent development’.
