PSYCHOANALYSIS AND ADOLESCENCE: REVISITING THE CLASSIC AND REFLECTING ON THE CONTEMPORARY

Abstract

This article aimed to understand the impacts of contemporary adolescence transformations on psychoanalytic theory and practice. Although Freud did not use the term "adolescence," his contributions regarding puberty and the psychic reorganization after the Oedipus complex are essential for understanding this phase of development. The study analyzes how cultural and social changes, especially the role of digital networks, influence adolescent experience and affect psychoanalytic clinical practice. The research involved a narrative review based on classic psychoanalytic texts, scientific articles, and recent academic productions, focusing on adolescence from a psychoanalytic perspective and the impact of social media. The results indicate that, while adolescence remains a period of crisis and psychic reorganization, the current scenario amplifies its complexity. Social networks, while providing new spaces for expression, intensify anxieties and comparisons, amplifying feelings of inadequacy. Therefore, psychoanalytic practice must adopt an attentive listening approach to the cultural and technological specificities of adolescents. The study concludes that it is necessary to integrate classic psychoanalytic concepts with contemporary demands, considering the new forms of expression of adolescent conflicts and the challenges posed by digital society.