Margaret Mahler

MARGARET MAHLER AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BIRTH OF THE CHILD

Dynamic Approaches to Psychological Development

• The theories proposed by Margaret Mahler are grounded in observations.

• Aim: The primary aim of Mahler's work is to understand childhood psychoses.

• Mahler emphasized that the separation-individuation process should be interpreted within the frameworks of libido theory and ego psychology.

PHASES AND SUBPHASES OF DEVELOPMENT

• Mahler outlines several phases related to the development of children, specifically focusing on the Separation-Individuation Phase. The following are the key phases and their respective subphases:

  • Forerunners of the Separation-Individuation Phase:

  • Normal Autism: Birth – 2-3 months

  • Normal Symbiosis: 2-3 – 5 months

  • Separation-Individuation: 5 – 24-36 months and beyond

    • Subphases:

    • Differentiation: 5 – 10 months

    • Practicing: 10 – 16 months

    • Rapprochement: 16 – 24 months

    • Object Constancy: 24-36 months and beyond

NORMAL AUTISTIC PHASE

• Duration: Birth to 2-3 months.

• Characteristics:

  • The infant exists in an objectless world where they are detached and entirely self-absorbed.

  • The infant operates within an ‘autistic shell’ and spends most of their time sleeping, indicating a lack of external engagement.

• Two Subphases:

  • Absolute Primary Narcissism: In this state, there is an unawareness of the caregiver.

  • Hallucinatory Omnipotence: A dim awareness of the mother as a satisfier of physiological needs is present.

• Mahler later abandoned this phase based on new findings from her infant research, leading to the concept of awakening.

NORMAL SYMBIOTIC PHASE

• Duration: Lasts until about 5 months of age.

• Characteristics:

  • The child becomes aware of their mother, but they do not recognize her individuality.

  • The infant perceives the mother and themselves as a singular entity, separated from the rest of the world by an imaginary barrier.

SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION

• The arrival of the Separation-Individuation Phase signals the conclusion of the Normal Symbiotic Phase.

• Two Intertwined Lines of Development:

  • Separation: This involves the development of limits and differentiating between the infant and the mother.

  • Individuation: This aspect refers to the infant's ego development, sense of identity, and cognitive abilities.

• This phase is divided into multiple subphases, each with unique onsets, outcomes, and associated risks.

SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION SUBPHASE I: DIFFERENTIATION

• Duration: 5 – 10 months.

• The infant becomes aware of the differentiation between themselves and the mother, described as the "Rupture of the shell," indicating a phase of hatching or emerging awareness.

• This results in increased alertness and interest in the outside world, with the mother serving as a point of orientation.

SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION SUBPHASE II: PRACTICING

• Duration: 10 – 16 months.

• This phase is triggered by the infant's ability to crawl and then walk independently.

• The infant begins to explore the environment actively and increases their distance from the mother while striving for independence.

SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION SUBPHASE III: RAPPROCHEMENT

• Duration: 15 – 24 months.

• The infant realizes that their abilities may not be sufficient for complete independence.

• The child understands that their physical mobility signifies psychic separateness from the mother, causing a sense of tentativeness.

• There is a desire for the mother to remain in sight to enable exploration through eye contact and actions.

• Risks Identified:

  • Twofold dilemma: the mother might misinterpret the infant's need for proximity, responding with impatience or being emotionally unavailable, which can instigate anxiety and fear of abandonment in the child.

  • Since self and object permanence are not fully developed, approaching the mother may heighten fears such as 'being swallowed' by her.

  • This phase can establish a basic ‘mood predisposition’.

Process of Rapprochement

• Beginning: This phase begins with the child's motivation to share their discoveries with the mother.

• Crisis: A critical conflict arises between the child’s desire for emotional closeness and their urge for independence and exploration.

• Solution: The resolution of this crisis is facilitated by the child's language development and the emergence of a superego.

Disruptions in Separation-Individuation

• Disruptions within the fundamental process of separation-individuation can result in disturbances that hinder the ability to maintain a reliable sense of individual identity during adulthood.

• Such disturbances are often correlated with conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder.

TASKS OF THE RAPPROCHEMENT SUBPHASE

• The following primary tasks or challenges emerge during the rapprochement subphase:

  • Mastering increasing separation anxiety.

  • Enhancing basic trust in relationships.

  • Reducing feelings of omnipotence.

  • Fostering feelings of autonomy.

  • Strengthening core self-identity.

  • Developing regulation of emotions and drives.

  • Diminishing splitting through repression.

SEPARATION-INDIVIDUATION SUBPHASE IV: EMOTIONAL OBJECT CONSTANCY

• Duration: 16-24 months and beyond.

• In this phase, the child recognizes that the mother possesses a distinct identity, truly existing as an individual separate from the child.

• This recognition facilitates the process of internalization, forming an internal representation of the mother, which becomes instrumental in emotional development.

• Internalization Role:

  • The positive internalization of the mother’s image provides the child with a secure sense of support and comfort at an unconscious level.

  • Deficiencies in positive internalization can contribute to feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem in adulthood.