As previously seen, Starbuck is a contemporary of James and fellow psycholoigist. With specific reference to conversion experiences,
he held that since they tend to occur in 15-24 year olds and from this rejected the divine notion of the experience opting instead to
explain them as “normal adolescent phenomenon”. Starbuck argued that the search for identity and purpose seen in adolescent
struggles resulted in either a religious conversion experience or, a sense of calm and identity that is wholly psychological rather than
