In this paper Laplanche's theories regarding seduction and the enigmatic message are elaborated into a developmental theory. Within this theory, Laplanche's concept of the “thing-like” enigmatic message is expanded into hypothesized evolving unconscious phantasies that serve a containment function. Ruth Stein's concept of “bodily curiosity” is viewed as an infantile phantasy of the enigmatic message as concretely contained within the mother's body. The primal scene brings about a transformation of that phantasy to one of the enigmatic message located within a satiated and knowing parental couple. This phantasy desexualizes sexuality, and creates a containing boundary of idealization between the child and adult worlds. The onset of puberty evokes both an experience of the body as “other”, and a more conscious and intrusive awareness of the parents' unconscious and sexuality. These experiences contribute to a breakdown of the cultural and defensive boundary between the child and adult worlds. Adolescence is exciting, traumatic, and disruptive because it involves a more direct confrontation with the enigmatic message and the anarchic drive. The adolescent's falling in love then plays a key role in taming the auto-erotic, anarchic drive. Commonly reported adolescent phantasies, interpersonal patterns, and behaviors are discussed within this theoretical perspective.