The most vulnerable time of a person's development is the first seven years of life. It is during this time that emotional, social, intellectual, physical and spiritual processes are formulated and the basic rules of life are laid down.

Without a sound spiritual link, many erroneous belief systems become the ground on which perception of self, others and the world is based. One of the principal reasons why this occurs is that during these formative years, children are totally dependent on their parents or guardians for love, food, warmth, clothing and shelter.

Therefore, if a child is told that she will not receive food unless she is good, then she will be good. If a child is told to be brave and not to cry and then he will be loved, then he will not cry. If a child is told that if he achieves highly in school he will be cherished, then he will overwork to achieve academically. Such belief systems will continue to influence the actions and self-worth of the child into later years.

Thankfully, there will come a time where there is less dependence and when it is necessary to challenge the wisdom of these beliefs, to see whether they still hold true in the present environment and are in harmony with the individual's own inner truth.

If there is disharmony, conflict necessarily develops. In the adolescent years, this is described by besieged adults as the "rebellious stage". Here the young person is attempting to determine maturely what is true for them as an individual and what belongs to their parents and society. They may appear to go overboard with wild hair styles, way-out clothing, bizarre beliefs, outrageous friends and unrecognisable music. This is their attempt to present the opposite role of existence to that experienced by their parents.

However, experimenting with new ways can often appear quite daunting as the old ways feel familiar and comfortable. Adolescents often worry how their parents and others will react. The admonishments "I told you so" or "don't say I didn't try to warn you" are not helpful when young people are attempting to set out alone.

When the old belief systems involve repeated messages that darken or dull their presence, it can be very difficult to start to develop some degree of self-identity and realise their self-worth. The only role left to such an individual is often that of believing that all that happens is their fault and that they will never succeed in anything that they attempt.

As they begin to develop a small degree of self-worth, they may even feel guilty for denying that which they have believed for so long. They can become both the victim and the victimiser and growth can become static.

In truth, the young person is the only one who holds the key to freedom from this prison - many can offer support, love, encouragement, but the teenager needs to unlock the door to allow true friends to enter.

Everything takes time, and one of the clever ways of sabotaging any forward movement is to set the goals too high and thereby fulfil the subconscious belief that nothing is possible. Whatever the reason, change is always difficult and threatening, particularly if the home, school, church and community are not supportive of questioning old beliefs.

Between 12 and 20 years, many young people tentatively formulate their own belief systems and apply them in their early adult years. In their late 20s, they reintroduce the more mature aspects of their parents' standards and combine them with their own beliefs.

However, there are many individuals who pass quietly through the teenage rebellion, only to see it emerge in their middle age.

I can also think of a goodly number of people in their 50sand 60s whose actions are still ruled by the belief systems of their parents.

Rules and belief systems need to be assessed, not just in adolescence, but throughout the whole of our lives to check that they are still in harmony with intuitive wisdom.

Such wisdom comes through the development of intuition and will reflect that which is good not only for the individual but also for humanity as a whole.

Dr Tony Humphreys is a consultant clinical psychologist and author of The Family: Love It And Leave It.