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Traditional psychoanalytic theories of adolescence have long needed a fresh examination. Classic authors in the field, such as Peter Blos (Blos, 1962), Anna Freud (Freud, 1966) and Erik Erikson (Erikson, 1956), emphasized that adolescence provides a second chance for separation and individuation. The adolescent sorts out parental introjects, selects and repudiates, ultimately developing an adult concept of self. The Bloch book, Adolescent Development, Psychopathology and Treatment, is a commendable effort at using contemporary theory and research to assess the adolescent and his world. To do this the book applies systemic and developmental ideas, as well as psychoanalytic models of classical Freudian psychology, ego psychology, self psychology, and American Object Relations.
Bloch discusses many psychoanalytic beliefs regarding adolescence. He reminds the reader of Anna Freud's position that adolescent turmoil was an inevitable and central ingredient in the passage to adulthood. Drawing on the research of Masterson, Offer and Offer, and others, Bloch challenged this view by questioning the validity of adolescent turmoil as a universal phenomenon. He proposes that the difficulties presented by the adolescent in psychotherapy may not be representative of all adolescents.
Bloch closely examines a number of assumptions about adolescent life: the normality of adolescent turmoil; the changes in sensibility; the surges of creativity; the struggles with self-consciousness and observing ego; the evolution of ego ideals connected to parents and others; the displacement of disillusionment with parents onto others. Especially intriguing was Bloch's investigation of the concept of mourning—the surrender of Oedipal longings—in adolescence. His conclusions were refreshing but could also be considered troubling. To some extent I believe that Bloch is correct in saying that mourning has been over-emphasized as a cornerstone in the normal developmental process of adolescence. Applying