»Well, it’s always been there subconsciously«

Afterwardsness and discontinuities in adolescent trans biographies

Authors

  • Janos Erkens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30820/0942-2285-2026-1-70

Keywords:

trans, transyouth, afterwardsness, genderidentity, depthhermeneutic

Abstract

This article examines how transgender adolescents and young adults reconstruct their life stories against the backdrop of discursive shifts regarding transgender lifestyles. Based on the psychoanalytic concept of nachträglichkeit (afterwardsness) and Laplanche’s understanding of gender as a never-ending solution to »enigmatic messages«, the article asks how discontinuities – puberty, inner coming out, transition – are retrospectively transformed into coherent biographies. The empirical basis is formed by three biographical narrative interviews with young trans people, which were analyzed in a depth hermeneutic interpretation group. In particular, the tensions between the pluralization of trans lifestyles, persistent identity imperatives, and normative family and social expectations were highlighted.

Author Biography

Janos Erkens

Janos Erkens, Dipl.-Soz., M.A. Psychosoziale Beratung und Recht, arbeitet als Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter des Instituts für Erziehungswissenschaften an der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal und promoviert dort zur Social Media Nutzung von trans Jugendlichen. Zudem ist er als psychosozialer Berater in der Aidshilfe Frankfurt tätig und leitet dort u.a. eine Gruppenangebot zum Thema Chemsex an.
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How to Cite

Erkens, Janos. 2026. “»Well, it’s Always Been There subconsciously«: Afterwardsness and Discontinuities in Adolescent Trans Biographies”. Journal für Psychologie 34 (1):70-91. https://doi.org/10.30820/0942-2285-2026-1-70.

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 1 (2026): Zeiterleben und Zeitpraktiken

Section

Artikel

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