Abstract: Psychotherapy is still an inexact science. It deals primarily with human anxiety in both its physical and emotional aspects. This textbook considers psychotherapy from a Freudian point of view. Three basic concepts are discussed: childhood and the modalities of social life, with particular emphasis on childhood in two American Indian tribes; growth of the ego; and youth and the evolution of identity. Case studies illustrate various aspects of the basic concepts. Case studies vary in length from a few pages to several chapters.

Foreword to the second edition -- Foreword to the first edition -- Part one. Childhood and the modalities of social life. 1. Relevance and relativity in the case history. A neurological crisis in a small boy: Sam ; A combat crisis in a marine -- 2. The theory of infantile sexuality. Two clinical episodes ; Libido and aggression ; Zones, modes, and modalities ; Genital modes and spatial modalities -- Part two. Childhood in two American Indian tribes. Introduction to part two -- Hunter across the prairie. The historical background ; Jim ; An interracial seminar ; Sioux child training ; The supernatural ; Summary ; A subsequent study -- 4. Fishermen along a salmon river. The world of the Yurok -- Yurok child psychiatry -- Yurok child training -- Comparative summary -- Part three. The growth of the ego. Introduction to part three -- 5. Early ego failure: Jean -- 6. Toys and reasons. Play, work, and growth ; Play and cure ; The beginnings of identity -- 7. Eight ages of man. Basic trust vs. basic mistrust ; Autonomy vs. shame and doubt ; Initiative vs. guilt ; Industry vs. inferiority ; Identity vs. role confusion ; Intimacy vs. isolation ; Generativity vs. stagnation ; Ego integrity vs. despair ; An epigenetic chart -- Part four. Youth and the evolution of identity. 8. Reflections on the American identity. Polarities ; "Mom" ; John Henry ; Adolescent, boss, and machine -- 9. The legend of Hitler's childhood. Germany ; Father ; Mother ; Adolescent ; Lebensraum, soldier, Jew ; A note on Jewry -- 10. The legend of Maxim Gorky's youth. The land and the Mir ; The mothers ; Senile despot and cursed breed ; The exploited ; The protestant -- 11. Conclusion: beyond anxiety -- Published writings of Erik H. Erikson -- Index.