ABSTRACT
As we can see from Blos's (1941) description of early adolescence (as cited by Muuss 1980), plus cËa change, plus c'est la meÃme chose. More recently the comedian Harry En®eld has managed to capture this early adolescent awkwardness in his character Kevin. Kevin seems to change overnight from his parents' point of view, and indeed we have all experienced at one time or another how quickly hormones can affect us. Uncontrollable changes in mood and uncontrollable changes in the body leave the adolescent feeling helpless at times. Watching the adolescent's struggles can be distressing, but the defences to which he resorts can induce painful feelings in others in an altogether different and less sympathy-inducing way.
