Mahler Flashcards
What is Mahlers Separation-Individuation Theory?
Mother-child relationship determines later development
development of self through interpersonal relationship with mother
process of separation from mom in order to develop self (personality characteristics)
infant innate drive/capacity to be independent
gains accumulate (1 stage–>next)
What is the normal infantile autism stage?
0-1 mo
focus on inner psychological state
no difference between self and mother
What is the age and abilitities of the symbiosis stage?
1-5 mo
child response to outer stimuli
mother and child are still one
What does the infant need during the symbiotic stage?
Needs positive experiences with nurturing mom = feel secure in exploring
How is the symbiotic phase disrupted? What results in later adult dev?
negative experiences with a non-nurturing mother
leads to distrust, feeling alone, vulnerable, clingy
What is the first substage of separation process comprised of?
differentiation between mom and self innate drive to explore observe strangers & external stimuli separation & stranger anxiety (7 mo) child uses mom as point of orientation
What is the age of the Hatching phase?
5-9 months
What results in success during the Hatching phase?
trusting mother = little fear of strangers
What results in failure during Hatching phase?
mothers control & need to be mirrored
leads to stranger/separation anxiety (no trust in symbiotic phase)
What is the Practicing phase?
active & bold exploration using mother as base
love affair with world
crawl/walk
What results in success during Practicing stage?
mom allows child to explore
moms attitude: quiet & stable
What results in failure during practicing stage? Later dev?
mom is overprotective / anxious
later dev = distant / rebellious
What age is in the practicing phase?
9-15 months
What is the rapproachment phase?
realizes need for mom & independence
(erikson: doubt)
share discoveries w/mom
physical mobility = separation from mom
What results in success during rapproachment phase?
mom allows child to leave and return without punishment or engulfment
What results in failure during rapproachment phase?
mom is too impatient = engulfment (fear of no escape) leads to: later detachment
mom is unavailable = abandonment
What age is the child in during rapproachment?
15-24 months
what is the age and final stage of mahlers theory?
24-36 mo
constancy of self & object
creates positive internal image of mother and can function apart from her
see others as separate
WDisruptions in the separation-individuation process lead to what?
inability to maintain reliable sense of identity
What results in success during self & object constancy?
sense of trust with mother as reliable & predictable
object permanence
During what stage does the child begin to become aware of some differentiation btwn self and mother?
Hatching phase
What stage is the child in during 15-24 months?
Rapproachment
What stage is the child in during 9-15 months?
Practicing
What stage is the child in during 24-36 months?
Constancy of self & object
What stage is the child in during 1-5 months?
Symbiosis
What stage is the child in during 5-9 months?
hatching
