Holden's Bogus Phobia in The Catcher in the Rye What does bogus mean to you? Do you think of it as something that is not what it really seems like? Or even something or someone that is not normal in all ways or just in some? Phony is one of the words in English literature that can have numerous interpretations. Can being fake get in the way of trying to do a task to function fully mentally? Can the fake delay the maturation period of an individual? In J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Holden's "false phobia" prevents him from becoming a fully mature adult. In Holden's attempt to become a fully mature adult, he encounters many scenarios involving friendships, personal opinions, and his love for children. His journey is unpleasant and difficult with many lessons learned along the way. Holden has abnormal relationships with some of the characters in Catcher in the Rye. Many of his friends and the ones he talks about a lot are young children. He makes no negative comments about these companions and no mention is made of the fakes. Holden has a strong relationship with Phoebee, his younger sister. Holden talks about the fact that Phoebee can visit him any time in the summer: “What I would do, I would let old Phoebee come out and visit me in the summer and during the Christmas and Easter holidays” (205). Holden shows a strong liking for his sister and always wants her by his side. Finds it difficult to associate with older, more mature individuals. Furthermore, a strong relationship with Allie, his deceased younger brother, is evident due to the twenty references in the novel. In fact, most of Holden's fondest memories involve those times spent with his younger siblings. His comments of innocence help establish this connection. Someone who is trying to learn the stages of development into a mature adult would not develop as quickly, or as fully, if they spent their time exclusively with those five to seven years of age. They would not receive guidance from elders to correct bad behavior. The guidance of an elder is not present and they need to learn on their own. Harrison Smith defined Holden's friendships quite clearly 'What was wrong with Holden was his moral revulsion against everything ugly, evil, cruel, or what he called 'phony' and his acute reactivity to beauty and innocence, especially the innocence of the youngest.