Abstract

RIBEIRO, Anna  and  CAROPRESO, Fatima. Margaret Mahler’s theory of early normal mental development. Psicol. rev. (Belo Horizonte) [online]. 2018, vol.24, n.3, pp. 894-914. ISSN 1677-1168.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5752/P.1678-9563.2018v24n3p894-914.

This paper aims to approach Margaret Mahler’s theory of early normal mental development and contribute to the understanding of her prominent place among the most important psychoanalytic authors who studied child development. More specifically, it intends to provide a systematic view of Mahler’s account of the process of early normal mental development in children from birth to three years old. Initially, we outline the author’s place in the field of child psychoanalysis and describe the research methodology employed by her and her collaborators in their empirical and clinical studies in child development. Next, we present the three levels proposed by Mahler in her theory of mental development, namely, "normal development", "crises inherent in the development" and "infantile psychosis". Finally, we describe stage by stage how the first of these levels ("normal mental development") takes place in early childhood.

Keywords : Psychoanalysis; Margaret Mahler; Mental development; Motherbaby relationship.

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