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Mahler's stage that is characterized by a baby considering itself a fused entity with its mother, but developing increased ability to differentiate between the inner and the outer world, is called:

A. Normal autism
B. Symbiosis
C. Differentiation
D. Rapprochement
E. Object constancy

User Daemes
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Final answer:

In Mahler's theory, the stage characterized by a baby feeling a fused bond with its mother while beginning to distinguish between its own inner world and the external environment is called symbiosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stage in Mahler's theory where a baby begins to see itself as a separate entity from its mother yet still feels a strong connection is known as symbiosis. During this stage, the baby develops an increased ability to differentiate between the inner world of self and the outer world that includes others. This is distinct from the stage of normal autism, where the infant is focused inwardly and seems largely unaware of the outside world, and the stages of differentiation and rapprochement, which follow symbiosis and involve further development of independence and dealing with separation, respectively. The concept of 'object constancy' relates to an infant's understanding that objects, including people, exist continuously, even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched, which develops later in the sensorimotor stage according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

User Jbigman
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