Evening star., 1939-04-02
Youth in Conflict
No Empty
Says Physician
Finds No Place for
Himself in World Of
Economic Problems

Himself in World Of
Economic Problems
This is one of a series Of ,Deekly
articles discussing activities OF
Community Chest agencies. This
article is based on the nth Of the
series OF sir lectures to be given
BY an erecuttpe OF a Chest agency
on "A Mental Hygienist Looks at
Lite"
youth in conflict" reference to
adolescence and its problems. is not
a meaningless phrase, but reality,
Dr. Paul J. Ewerhardt of the Wash
lngton Institute of Mental Hygiene
said yesterday in one of a series of
lectures before doctors and nurses
from STATS of public health and
Community Chest welfare agencies
IN the auditorium of the United
States Public Health Service.
DR.. Ewerhardt commented that
from a mental hygiene viewpoint,
adolescents can be CLASSIFIED in two
categories.
In the first group are those who
show varying degrees of trouble
some and disturbing reactions and
behavior. They are the unstable
unadjusted, emotionally immature
children who simply lack inner
strengths to fit themselves into new
phases of life experience: or. they
are normal personalities having rea-
sonable capacity to make adjust
ments, but find themselves in an
unreasonable situation against
which they react. Parents are
overly strict. their point of view in
no way harmonizes with the adoles-
cent, or they desperately try to keep
him a child"
The other, and far larger group,
DIR. Ewerhardt said, present no out
standing symptoms and in a general
way seem to be adjusting well. But
they, too, need a more understand
ing environment than they have,
and more opportunity for growth
and expansion which the social order
does not yet provide" he stated.
Period Of Development.
Adolescence as period in the
growth and development of the hui
man organism has received more
popular recognition" than perhaps
any other. Dr.. Ewerhardt believes.
It is often viewed with anxiety and
alarm. 1t has become associated
with stormy behavior. rebellious ac-
tivity and marked instability of tenn
perament and character.
THE extreme viewpoint that this
period predisposes to mental break
down has in some instances been
. taken. At one time it was believed
that the largest single group of
mental illnesses emerged out of
breakdowns occasioned by the stress
and strain of adolescence.
Literature on this subject is so
voluminous-much of it of a con-
fiicting sort-that confusion has evil
IDENTITY resulted in the popular
mind"
So that adolescence will not be
singled out and thought of as having
no relation to the years preceding,
it should be borne in mind that "ife
Is continuous process from birth
onward" DR.. Ewerhardt pointed out.
Each year the child advances ex-
periences become more numerous
and complex. If ability to adapt
and adjust have kept pace with rea-
sonable demands made upon him,
there is a reasonable expectation
that he can make serviceable ad-
justments during adolescence.
Parents Complicate Situation.
Too many children. however,
reach this age inAdequately pre-
pared for the many responsibilities
thrust upon them In rapidly be-
coming biologically mature and
faced by conditions arising out of
a socio-economic order. And many
parents, themselves confused by
misunderstanding of the needs of
the adolescent and unable to meet
these needs, have complicated the
situation.
The adolescent shall be consid-
cred as going through certain physi-
cal and physiological changes which
come about rapidly. Undue weight
shall not be given to one small area.
such as growth, for example. be-
cause there are similar periods of
great growth the first three years
Of childhood and again at about Z.
In suddenly becoming biological
y mature the adolescent needs in
ner strengths and outside aid that
will assist him in stable behavior.
Many of these inner strengths
should have been achieved during
the early years of growth in the
form of stability of character and
temperament. He cannot at once
be expected to gain them"
The notion that when a boy or
girl reaches adolescence he or she
will in some miraculous way undergo
. change that suddenly will remove
nervousness infantile behavior, ETC.,
long ago was exploded, Dr. Ever
hardt declared.
Confusion Created in Mind.
1T sex education has been an
integral part of the whole process
Of life education while growing up
and orienting himself to the world,
he will be able to work through this
aspect of life. If, on the other
hand, he has a few facts of life
suddenly thrown at him, especially
when the motive for this Is fear and
anxiety on the part of the parent,
his capacity to utilize this knowl-
edge serviceably may we'll be ques-
toned. More often, guilt is subtly
aroused, conflicts set up or confusion
created in his mind"
To recognize tine inevitable nor
NAL process whereby childhood love
and dependency become changed
into a more mature affection char
Acteristic of adults and his wish to
solve his own problems with the
aid and help of an understanding
parent, to the end that he can take
over more and more responsibility
for his own acts Is as necessary to
the adolescent as the food he requires