Mahler (development)
Margaret Mahler developed the Separation-Individuation theory of child development.
According to this, child personality development takes place in discrete stages.
According to this, child personality development takes place in discrete stages.
| Stage | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| I | Autistic phase | Takes place during first few weeks of life. Child is cut off, spends most of time sleeping |
| II | Symbiotic phase | This lasts until around 6 months of age, the child considers themselves and the mother to be a single unit and has no sense of themselves as an individual |
| III | Separation-individuation phase | During this phase the child learns to be an individual. This phase is split up into the following sub phases; differentiation, practicing, rapprochement, object constancy |
