Margaret Mahler Flashcards
What was Margaret Mahler’s focus?
Object Relations
How many Stages did Mahler create?
3 stages of Development
What is Stage 1?
Normal Autism (birth-1month of age) Description: Responses are based on internal stimuli but are no longer referenced to at this time.
What is Stage 2?
Symbiosis or Normal Symbiotic (1-4 months of age)
Focus is on the relationship between the mother and the child (or care taker) in which the mother and the child are seen as one entity in which defenses are created as such.
What is Stage 3?
Separation-Individuation (4-8 months through 36 months of age)
The process in which a child forms their own identity similar to Erikson’s explanation of Individuation.
She further breaks it down to include sub-stages.
What sub-stage is she referring to at 4-8months?
Differentiation from Mother/Hatching which describes the point in time that the child understands that he or she is different and separate from the mother/care take which then results in separation anxiety.
What sub-stage is she referring to at 8-15months?
Practicing: The point in time where the child will leave the mother and understand that they can return.
What is sub-stage is she referring to at 15-24 months?
Rapprochement: The stage in which the child becomes aware of her ability to be separate from the mother and will explore on their own and will become curious and explore the world in which the mother may become inpatient with the child’s exploration.
What sub-stage is she referring to at 24-36 months through 4years of age?
Achievement of Individuality: object constancy takes place in which the child will form a strong sense of self identity.
