Process of Separation - Individuation

Question 1

What is the Autistic Phase?

Mahler

Answer 1

Newborn to 1 month

• Infant focused on self*
• Incapable of investing in others/unresponsive to external stimuli

Question 2

What is the Symbiotic Stage?

Mahler

Answer 2

1-5 Months

Infant breaks out of autistic shell

infant feels unity with mother and begins to understand the mother as a separate being

Question 3

What is the Differentiation Phase?

Mahler, Stage 1

Answer 3

6-9 Months

Attention shifts from inward focus to outward focus

Infant begins to separate from caregiver by crawling

Question 4

What is the Practicing Phase?

Mahler, Stage 2

Answer 4

9-14 months

Infant crawls and walks freely, explores actively and becomes distant from mother

Question 5

What is the Rapprochement Phase?

Mahler, Stage 3

Answer 5

14-24 months

Infant desires to be independent

Infant moves away from mother but returns regularly to make sure that she is still there

Question 6

What is the Object Constancy Phase?

Mahler, Stage 4

Answer 6

24 Months and On

Infant has capacity to recall mother despite absence

Child sees mother as separate individual from themselves