Page - 75 - in Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Puberty and Adolescence - The Inner Worlds of Teenagers and their Parents

Psychosexual development in puberty 75 that correspond to his feelings, without grading them. In German class, the stu- dents are asked to describe the feelings of a person depicted in a picture they are shown. James at first refuses to participate until H. asks him to simply write what- ever occurs to him, which he does hesitantly. H. is shocked by the result. James describes the pictures of two persons whose feelings are meant to be identified by the students. The first picture is a young man in rage. The first question is: what is this person feeling? James writes the following answer: I would say she is furious, but since I couldn’t care less about this whole fucking feeling soup, I just say SMD! (author: suck my dick!) The second question is: What has happened to make this person feel that way? James: SMD Third question: What is this person saying? James: SMD The second picture: Fourth question: What can we do to make this person feel better? James: Kick her in the ass, wipe out her whole generation, spray sulphuric acid in her eyes, rub shit in her hair! And then we drown her in her own blood! Because I can shit!! The third assignment is to write an “Inner Monologue”. James writes: A small kitten . . . Meow! I’ve been waiting a half an hour for my mother! And then she comes to me with the excuse that she’s hungry too! Oh! Finally she brings me a bowl of food. Meow! That tasted good. Oh! Wasn’t that a dragonfly out there? Maybe I can catch it! A delicious dessert wouldn’t hurt me. Hm – it got away! Oh well, I’ll climb up the tree there, I will find some insects up there. Mhm! There are indeed! A fly, a spider and a beetle! Oh my God! My mom is com- ing. Why is she always worried when I climb up a tree? No thanks, I’m full and don’t want to get down yet! Puh, she’s going back down . . . but maybe too soon the all clear? Now she’s coming back with the ladder . . . one level higher, and I’m already out of reach! Haha! . . . Well, it is higher than I thought, but finally I am on top. She has an extension for the ladder?! Super! Why do I have to get down now? Probably she doesn’t want me to stay out- doors when it’s getting dark. But never mind, I’ll lie down in front of the fireplace. Discussion Here, we see a split between James’ murderous aggression, murderous “shit” and thoughts of blood and death on the one hand, and his longing on the other hand. In his essay, he is the kitten whose mother is looking after him. H.