WORKING WITH ADOLESCENTSIt seemed important that the discovery of the sporting ability arose out of a childhood which seemed not to be nourishing. Harry hope of becoming a sporting star is a common fantasy in adolescence, made all the more poignant and tantalising by the fact that it nearly became attainable �he found a talent in himself and got within touching distance of it. The loss of his sporting aspirations was painful and difult to mourn. On the other hand, his suddenly acquired sporting ability had the effect of lifting him above the misery of his internal world, and the limitations of his relationships. Sayers (1991) illustrates the way adolescents idolise others, mainly male sporting or music stars. Blos (1984) approved hero worship and idolisation, and the cult of poster personality, which adorns teenage bedrooms. Sayers (1991 p. 117), with a wealth of self-reports, show that the heroes and idols of adolescence are long remembered. Harry, though, was taking himself as hero. His sudden emergence of a physical prowess following puberty brought a sense of power and achievement, triumphing brie over his miserable childhood. The hope for sporting success was harnessed as a means of saving himself from his inner world. It was stuck onto his identity like Satya stuck adulthood on to her body. Harry wished to turn himself into an idol and in losing this possibility lost his deal� Hanna Segal (1995) considers the difference between idealisation and ideal:Idealisation is a distortion of realities and a dangerous stance, since it is invariably accompanied by splitting and projection �idealising oneself and one ideas or groups at the expense of paranoid attitudes to others. Having ideals is very different; it is not pathological to hope for a better future; for instance for peace and to strive for it, while recognising how hard it is to attain, and that the opposition to it comes not only from others but also has its roots in ourselves. (1995 p. 204)Summary�This chapter has explored the meaning of subjectivity inadolescence, the process in which adolescents have diverse experiences of bodily changes and separation from familiar ways of relating as a child.46
