Applying Mahler s Model Of Separation Individuation Essay

3. Apply Mahler’s model of separation-individuation to explain the child’s behavior. Mahler’s model of separation-individuation theorizes that after the first few weeks of infancy, in which the infant is either sleeping or barely conscious, the infant goes from a phase called normal-symbolic phase, in which it identifies itself as one with its mother within the larger environment (Margaret Mahler and the Separation-Individuation Theory). This then leads to the separation-individuation phase that includes several stages or sub-phases that influence the infant to distinguish itself from its mother, discovers its own identity, will, and individuality. According to Mahler, the normal symbiotic phase extends from the first signs of conscious awareness at four to six weeks until about five months of age. In the normal-symbiotic phase, the infant is now aware of its mother, but has no sense of individuality of its own. In the separation-individuation phase, the infant gets out of its ‘autistic shell† and slowly begins to connect with its environment and with people in it. Separation refers to the development of limits and to the differentiation in the infants mind between the infant and the mother, whereas individuation refers to the development of the infant’s ego, sense of identity, and cognitive abilities (Margaret Mahler and the Separation-Individuation Theory). According to Mahler, the phases listed above are divided into three sub-phases, which occurs in the following: