[Identification and self-image in adolescents. A comparison between two cultural groups]

Following a review of the literature concerning the problem of identity structure in adolescents, two groups of lower secondary school students were examined, one of which belonged to the Walser community in Valsesia. The family drawing test was used, a personality projective test which, by analysing some indices, enables and understanding to be obtained of the identification processes with parent figures. From the comparison of the two groups it was found that the traditional Walser family offers to adolescents a more clear-cut model and that therefore there is less evident conflict in parent-adolescent relations. In non-Walser families the increased dispersion of data served to create more confused identity processes and greater conflict in intrafamilial affective links.