From a psychoanalytic perspective, Adolescence and Character Disturbance describes the role of primitive anxiety states in adolescent character organization. This volume's primary objective is to compare and contrast classical Freudian, British object relations, and interpersonal psychoanalytic theories of character consolidation during adolescence. The format combines aspects of an historical survey of psychoanalytic theories, and clinical chapters on both adolescent psychopathology, and the current treatment implications of the psychoanalytic theoretical models.

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgements Chapter 3 Character Formation: Character: An Introduction; Adolescent Development and Psychoanalytic Theory; Abusive Families and Character Formation Chapter 4 Primitive Anxiety, Character, and the Therapeutic Process: Death Anxiety and Character Disturbance; Primitive Anxiety and Resistance; Countertransference and Resistance Chapter 5 Adolescents' Character Pathology: Borderline Adolescents; Homicidal Adolescents; Adolescents' Identity Disturbance and Antisocial Trends; Narcissistic Adolescents Chapter 6 Epilogue Chapter 7 References Chapter 8 Index Chapter 9 About the Author

James B. McCarthy is a Psychologist who is associated with the New York University Postdoctoral Program. He is also the Director of Psychology Training at Queens Children's Psychiatric Center.