Adolescent development: A view from self psychology

Abstract

Self psychology does not have a distinctive developmental theory. This paper discusses some of the methodological problems related to the articulation of such a theory, and goes on to outline a theory of adolescent development that is consistent with the tenets of self psychology. The major points made are: Adolescence does not represent a recapitulation of prior phase of development, the sense of self cohesion is fundamental to a healthy sense of self, and the culmination of the adolescent process is the formation of a nuclear sense of self.