In contrast to positivistic self-concept psychology, the cognitive-developmental approach looks at concepts of selfhood itself. Interviews with adolescents reveal that they have a complex ‘divided metaphysics’ of subjectivity, based on a dualism of true, inner self and false, outer appearance. R.D. Laing has also discussed this ‘divided self’ However, he confuses divided metaphysics with metaphysical dividedness (schizophrenia). His confusions reflect general conceptual problems in differentiating ideas about alienation from alienated existence or experience per se.