Question

A small child is in the park with her mother. As the two interact, the child goes off to play for a brief time, then returns to her mother, then goes off to play, then returns to her mother. The child continues this pattern, regularly checking to see that her mother is still there. She would best fit into which one of Mahler's stages of separation-individuation?

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

Answer 1

The child constantly checking in with her mother while playing in the park aligns with Mahler's Rapprochement stage of separation-individuation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario described, where a small child in a park regularly checks to see if her mother is still there after going off to play, the child would best fit into Mahler's Rapprochement stage of separation-individuation. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 16 and 24 months and is characterized by increased independence accompanied by a necessary assurance of the presence of an attachment figure. During Rapprochement, the child may oscillate between seeking closeness to a caregiver and exploring the environment, which mirrors the behavior of the child with her mother in the park.