On Adolescence

by Margot Waddell

Published 31 January 2018

Adolescence and adolescent states of mind have seldom captured so much attention publicly, nor have they stirred so much anxiety and disturbance privately. This long acknowledged, problematic, transitional world between childhood and adulthood is especially fraught, these days, with the assaults and pressures of contemporary culture and modern technology.

The heart of the book lies in the exploration of the inner lives of these young people, whether or not they find their way to clinical services. It sets out to illuminate the sorts of things that go wrong, and how we can help to address them – the crises of identity, gender, loss, self-harm, bullying, depression, anger, suicidal impulses, anxiety, and so much more. On Adolescence: Inside Stories is intended for all those concerned with adolescence, and adolescent states of mind at whatever age or stage.


Inside Lives

by Margot Waddell

Published 1 October 1998
This is an introduction to the factors which develop or inhibit the mind in all stages of life, from a psychoanalytic point of view. Following the major developmental phases from infancy to old age, it explores those vital aspects of experience which promote mental and emotional growth and those which impede it. The book traces the interplay between factors, internal and external, which contribute to a person's character strength and sense of identity. Offering a detailed and accessible introduction to contemporary psychoanalytic thought, the book's breadth should engage readers from an academic context, the professional practitioner and the concerned parent. In bringing together a wide range of clinical, non-clinical and literary examples it provides a personal and vivid perspective on the relationship between psychodynamic theory and the nature of human development.