The second individuation process in handicapped adolescents

Blos has conceptualized adolescence as the stage when a second process of separation individuation takes place. It is assumed that maturational processes like physical and sexual development combined with higher levels of thinking play a dominant role in this process enabling the disengagement of the adolescent from the family. Various handicapping conditions may force the adolescent to stay closer to his/her family and hence interfere with the adolescent's separation-individuation. It is suggested that the nature of the interference will vary depending on whether the handicap is physical or cognitive. Both conditions appear to have differential effects on the separation individuation process. The influences of various parental attitudes are also discussed.