THE BIRTH OF YOUNG ADULTHOOD: A PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The digital book "Birth of the Young Adult: A Psychoanalytic Perspective" analyzes the constitution of the adult subject from the foundations of psychoanalytic theory, highlighting that adulthood is not a fixed state, but a continuous process of psychic construction. The adult "self" is understood as a result of experiences lived since childhood, including influences from the parental unconscious, culture, and primary relationships established throughout development. The work emphasizes the importance of the psychosexual phases proposed by Freud, as well as the contributions of post-Freudian authors, such as Winnicott, by emphasizing the role of a sufficiently good environment in the formation of a healthy psychic structure. In this context, young adulthood is presented as a period of intense transformations, in which the mental health built in previous stages is put to the test. Professional and affective choices emerge as central elements of this phase, being profoundly influenced by pre-Oedipal and Oedipal experiences. Furthermore, the text highlights that emotional maturity involves the ability to deal with ambivalence, frustration, loss, and conflict without compromising the subject's integrity. The possibility of psychic transformation throughout life is also emphasized as one of the pillars of psychoanalytic practice. Finally, the book proposes an understanding of adulthood as a journey, not a destination, emphasizing that adults are not perfect beings, but individuals capable of loving, working, sustaining relationships, assuming responsibilities, and finding meaning in their experiences. Maturity, in this sense, is associated with internal integration, emotional autonomy, and the ability to build meaningful relationships, even in the face of the inevitable contradictions of human existence.