The Adolescent Girl (Evening Post, 22 July 1929)

On 22 July 1929, Dr. Jessie Scott delivered an engaging address to the Christchurch branch of the Parents' National Educational Union, focusing on "The Adolescent Girl." In her talk, Dr. Scott emphasized the importance of understanding adolescent girls through the lens of basic psychology. She outlined the development of a normal child's love-life, which is categorized into four distinct stages. The first is the auto-erotic stage, lasting until approximately the age of five or six, where a child's attention is primarily on her own body, considering herself as her own love-object. The second stage, termed the Narcissian stage, spans from ages six to eleven, during which the child is more focused on her personality and possessions. The next phase, occurring between ages eleven or twelve and sixteen, is the homo-sexual period, characterized by emerging traits like loyalty and bravery, with girls expressing strong affections for same-sex peers, often older women. Finally, the heterosexual stage marks a shift where girls become interested in boys. Dr. Scott noted that delays in progressing through these stages can lead to various abnormalities, including health issues and character instability in adulthood. For instance, if the auto-erotic stage is prolonged, it may result in selfishness or hysteria in adult women, while a delay in developing narcissism could lead to excessive vanity and egotism. She highlighted the puberty phase, which entails significant physical, psychological, and emotional changes, advising against defining these normal developments as illnesses. Dr. Scott urged parents to approach these changes with understanding and to communicate effectively about sexual matters with their daughters, ideally beginning such discussions around the age of twelve. Concluding her address, Dr. Scott touched upon the emotional and psychological developments typical of adolescent girls, noting their increased interest in fashion, tendency for daydreaming, and occasional deep religious feelings, as well as admiration for the opposite sex. She expressed optimism about the contemporary understanding of girls and their challenges, advocating for encouraging their creative potentials to contribute positively to society.

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