Mahler’s and Winnicott’s Contributions to Psychology

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main Part of the Study
Concluding Part
References

Introduction

The sphere of psychoanalysis is very broad and influential; modern science still sticks to some theories developed in the past by well known and skilled psychiatrists and pediatricians. The theories of psychoanalysis are in wide use in current times. Such well known psychoanalysts as Donald Woods Winnicott and Margaret Mahler managed to make great contributions to the development of psychology as a method of treatment. They studied such aspects as transitional space, symbiosis and individuation. Their researches and practical recommendations are considered to be of magnificent value for modern science. It should be noted that contemporary sphere of psychoanalysis uses sophisticated concepts and theoretical issues developed by scientists and psychologists mentioned above. Their theories are merely concentrated on the methods of disturbed children treatment through the involvement of psychoanalysis; the theorists are focused on the aspect of mother-infant interrelation and stages of infant’s development through the mother’s participation in it.

Main Part of the Study

Margaret Mahler and Her Theoretical Study

Margaret Mahler is considered to be a Hungarian physician having contributed to the development of psychiatry. Her theories were centralized around the aspect of psychoanalysis. Mahler devoted her study to the analysis of childhood development. She managed to deepen into children’s psychiatry concentrating on their psychological state and gradual inner development.

The principle sphere of Mahler’s work touched psychoanalysis of disturbed children. The development of the Tripartite Treatment Model is recognized as important contribution into the psychological area. This model was focused on the children’s treatment through their mothers’ participation. It gave a start to the exploration of childhood severe disturbances stressing the significance of environment on child’s process of rehabilitation. It is important to stress that Mahler was merely interested in the phenomenon of mother-infant duality. She always tried to document the influence and effects of early child’s separations from mothers. It is important to stress that the separation-individuation documentations mentioned above are considered to be the most important contributions to the psychoanalysis development. Besides, Mahler managed to highlight abnormal and normal features related to the ego psychology. Her studies appeared to be of great value for psychological explorations of children’s early formation. She tried to work with children being psychotic; though the psychoanalytic treatment had not involved psychosis yet. It should be mentioned that she was completely struck by symbiotic child psychosis. She perceived symptomatology as the normal process derailment making object- and self representations completely distinct. It should be underlined that one of her most significant works is considered to be The Psychological Birth of the Human Infant: Symbiosis and Individuation.

Margaret Mahler’s Theory of Separation Individuation

One of the most famous and significant theories of Margaret is the one of Separation-Individuation covering the aspect of child development. According to Margaret Mahler the psychological birth never coincide with the biological one. Psychological birth is considered to be a sophisticated and dramatic process being a completely well-circumscribed event in the life of human being.

“Consciousness of self and absorption without awareness of self are two polarities between which he moves with varying ease and with varying degrees of alternation or simultaneity” (Mahler, p. 419).

The psychological birth is presented as the process of separation-individuation; the normal process usually covers the child’s achievement of individual functioning together with the mother’s emotional availability. The notions of separation and individuation are connected with different complementary developments: individuation covers child’s achievements marking his assumption through individual characteristics; separation contains the emergence of the child from symbiotic fusion. These two phenomena are not identical though they are closely interwoven. Mahler merely concentrated on early stages of the infant’s childhood. She tried to show that the analysis of this theory would lead to make comprehensible the psychotic children’s developmental failures. Mahler sticks to the notion “symbiosis” calling it the aspect of intrapsychic condition. This aspect is based on the scotomatization of contradictory perceptions or primitive oneness images.

“The separation-individuation phase is a kind of the second birth experience described as a hatching from the symbiotic mother-child common membrane” (Mahler, p. 322).

The ego concept is considered to take an important place in the modern psychological study. Generally speaking this notion means the individual being self centered with inflated self-worth sense. The theory of object-relations is aimed at individuals’ external difficulties with other human beings being closely connected with internal mentalistic distortions. Mahler tried to focus on the inner people’s life. She managed to clarify the principle source of distortions and underline the relationships between object constancy and developmental arrest. Mahler tried to explain the effects of the individual’s psyche being pressed by personal relations.

“Object-Relations Theory is the psychoanalytic approach to the internalization of interpersonal relations, the study of how interpersonal relations determines intrapsychic structures, and how they preserve, modify and reactivate past internalized relations with others in the context of present interpersonal relations” (Flores, p. 254).

The developmental sequence starts with the normal autism stage at birth and takes place through the attachment process to the normal symbiosis phase being symbolized by self-object representation. Mahler tried to form progressive stages of infant’s developmental process and relation to the object through defining normal symbiosis and autism phases.

It should be noted that this theory covers various phases of child development.

Normal Autistic Phase.

This phase takes only first weeks of baby’s life. Usually the infant is self absorbed and detached. Baby is usually in the state of being asleep. This initial phase of Mahler’s theory was refused by the author; she considered it non-existent. Nevertheless the analysis of her theories in various sources showed that this phase really takes place.

The child is in the state of complete disinterest to the external reality; Mahler explains this by the limitations of infant’s physiological development which provide certain restrictions in the child’s psychological investment. Mahler stated that autistic infant is fixated during the initial stages of his life; he tends to make no progress to the attachment.

Normal Symbiotic Phase.

This phase takes place at the age of 5 months. It was stressed that at this period the child perceives the mother and is completely aware of her existence, though the sense of individuality is absent. The recognition of the mother by the infants leads to the emergency of basic trust on the part of the child. Mahler stated that this phase meant the wholeness of mother and the child being completely separated from the outside world. The infant is able to attach himself and connect to the external world. Nevertheless the failure in the attachment can result in complete frustration of self organization. Mahler defined this phase as the one when: “the infant becomes the child of his particular mother” (Flores, p. 375).

It is the period of mother identification and her role recognition for the infant. The child expresses his attachment to the mother.

Separation-Individuation Phase.

The beginning of the phase means the breakage of Normal Symbiotic phase. Mahler sticks to the point that separation is closely connected with limits development, differentiation between the mother and the infant; the aspect of individuation is reflected in infant’s ego development, in formation of cognitive abilities and sense of identity. Mahler tried to show child’s joining the world with various human connections. It should be stressed that this phase is subdivided into several subphases.

Hatching; This period lasts about several first months. It should be noted that infant does not differentiate his mother who is considered to be the orientation point for the child. An infant is merely interested in the outside world.
Practicing; It is a period of about 16 months. This stage covers child’s abilities to walk freely. The child starts top explore the world actively and the distance between him and his mother is more vivid; nevertheless he functions as one whole with his mother.
Rapprochement; It is the phase of 24 moths; at this period the infant becomes closer to his mother. The infant reaches awareness of the fact that he is psychically separated from his mother. The exploration of the world is demonstrated in more autonomous way; at this period the infant faces the fear of being misread or abandoned by his mother. It should be noted that the stage underwent certain subdivisions:

Beginning. It is the infant’s desire of sharing everything with his mother;
Crisis. The child is in the state of emotional closeness and independence from his mother.
Solution. It covers individual solutions which are enabled without the involvement of superego and language development.

The theory of separation-individuation states that the process of its disruption can lead to disturbance in human ability of maintaining the sense of private identity in future adulthood.

Mahler stated that there was a phase in the infant’s psychological birth when the child became aware of his separation from the mother being completely individual and more independent. This stage is called Object Constancy. It should be noted that this stage usually results in Internalization formation; it means that the infant has formed internally. Internalization usually stands for providing a special image for the child helping him to get comfort and support from the mothers. It is important to stress that deficiencies observed in positive Internalization can result in low self esteem and sense of insecurity in adulthood.

The analysis of Mahler’s theories gave an opportunity to evaluate her contribution to the sphere of psychology and child’s treatment. She managed to investigate the psychic birth of children concentrating on early stages of their development. It is an important fact that Mahler tried to use only real data for the theory development; as a result her study and scientific contribution appeared to be of great significance for modern psychology.

Donald Woods Winnicott. His Contribution to Psychological Study

Donald Woods Winnicott is a well known psychoanalyst and pediatrician.

As well as Mahler he made rich contribution to the development of ways of treatment for physically disturbed children. It is important to stress that he concentrated on mothers’ experience for his concepts study; the most significant and influential works of him are considered to be “holding environment” playing a crucial role for psychotherapy and the concept of transitional object being known as “security blanket”. One should stress the fact that Winnicott tried to use inanimate familiar object for his theories which are usually perceived by children at the period of stress. His contribution to the sphere of psychology is connected with the creation of significant essay called “Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena”. Winnicott made his concepts influential and effective; thus, they are still used in modern psychological practice and pediatry.

Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena

The theory of Winnicott is considered to be quite innovative due to author’s psychic space conceptualization concentrating on mother and infant; it cannot be regarded as completely physical or psychological being termed as “holding environment” and allowing more autonomous child’s transition. It should be noted that the theory of “transitional object” is merely focused on the main aspects of holding environment concept. According to Winnicott, mother’s failure being the not-good-mother to provide an appropriate holding environment can lead to false self disorder.

It is in the space between inner and outer world, which is also the space between people – the transitional space – that intimate relationships and creativity occur (Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena, 1951).

Winnicott highlighted the level of creativity formation in human mental presentation experienced from the moment of psychic birth.

The analysis of the theory original hyposis discloses the following considerations provided by Winnicott:

New borned infants tend to use their fingers firstly; they use thumbs in the oral erotogenic zone stimulation;
Despite infants’ sex, in a few months they tend to play with dolls; infants are allowed by their mothers to take some special objects expecting their children to be addicted to them;
There is a certain link between two phenomena being separated by a certain time interval.

Transitional phenomenon can be considered some phenomenon or thing being aimed against anxiety. The principle aspect of transitional object is the following:

There is no noticeable difference between boy and girl in their use of the original not-me possession, called the transitional object (Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena, 1951).

It should be stressed that transitional object is connected with auto-erotic phenomena in time; transitional object is related to internal objects such as magically interjected breast and external object that is mother’s breast, but nevertheless it is completely distinct from each of them. According to Winnicott there are some cases when the transitional object is absent but for infant’s mother herself; or, for example, an infant may be emotionally disturbed gaining no enjoyment from the transition state.

The theory states that the infant gets certain rights over the object. Besides, the object is considered to be cuddled affectionately and mutilated excitedly. Transitional object never undergoes changes until it is transformed by the infant. In case of pure aggression the object is to survive hating and instinctual loving. It should be stressed that transitional object never goes inside in health; it is not mourned and not forgotten. At a certain stage transitional object loses its meaning; it connected with the fact that the transitional phenomena have got diffused being spread out between “the external world” and “inner psychic reality”. (Winnicott, 1971)

It is important to underline the following considerations made out of the theory analysis: “transitional phenomena” is related to auto-erotic activities, such as, for example, thumb-sucking, persisting into adulthood; “transitional objects” are considered to be hard toys or things having the properties of non-object for infants. The transitional object is a kind of breast symbol.

To the observer, the child perceives what the mother actually presents, but this is not the whole truth (Motivation, Learning and Children’s Development, p. 112).

The theory of Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena is considered to be a significant contribution to the development of pediatry and disclosure of the principle methods of mother-infant relations and their interaction at early stages of child’s formation.

It is necessary to note that the theory under analysis is highlighted in detail in the book by Winnicott called “Playing and Reality”. In this book Winnicott tried to investigate cultural experience and imaginative living springs focusing on different senses and determining the capacity of individuals to live in a creative way and make life be worthy of living. The author tried to investigate the creativity origins and disclose principle creative approaches of the world. Winnicott managed to prove that people have great opportunities to enjoy rewarding and rich cultural life by means of attentive creativity nurturing being observed from early period of human psychological and physic development.

The Concept of Good-Enough Mother

According to Winnicott the thing “baby” cannot really exists without the mother; he never separated these two phenomena stating that infant and mother are the whole functioning together. He introduced the notion of “primary maternal preoccupation”; it means mother’s psychophysiological preparedness for motherhood considering it a certain special phase when mother can identify intuitively and closely with her infant being able to supply necessary body-needs and emotional needs and giving the start for the infant’s ego-development and integration.

The Good-Enough Mother idea was developed and formulated by Winnicott. The identification of this concept lied in mother’s conscious and unconscious emotional and physical attunement to the baby expressed at different moments of infancy. The adaptation to the infant is considered to be the principle role of the Good-Enough Mother; this stage means providing complete sense of control, mother and baby comfort connection and subjective omnipotence. Winnicott stated that mother could be perceived as a kind of container reflecting bad objects of infant; it can be explained by the fact that child tends to project all these objects into the mother. Here one can observe the interaction of Winnicott’s theories; for example, holding environment discussed above gives an opportunity to infant to transition taking more autonomous position at its own rate.

It should be noted that the basic environment aspects identified by Winnicott are considered to be the following:

Handling;
Holding;
Object-presenting.

It means that every mother can hold and handle the child and is able to present some objects to him. Besides, the object can be the mother herself, or her breast or even the definite separate object. Such actions of the good-enough mother are aimed at general child’s satisfaction. According to Winnicott, the good-enough mother responds to the gesture of the infant providing him with temporary omnipotence illusion, hallucination realization and certain protection from primitive agonies threatening the immature ego being in the state of complete dependence of development. Psychosis is considered to be the result of this stage failure.

The principle function of the good-enough mother is to satisfy the infant’s needs; the strategy is aimed at leaving a certain period of time between the infant’s demands and the process of their satisfaction. With every passing phase this time lag is gradually increased.

“The good-enough mother… starts off with an almost complete adaptation to her infant’s needs, and as time proceeds she adapts less and less completely, gradually, according to the infants growing ability to deal with her failure” (Winnicott, p. 93).

It should be noted that Winnicott compared the good-enough mother with the perfect one satisfying all the infant’s needs which result in development prevention. The behavior of the good-enough mother can be highlighted on the basis of one more concept of Winnicott devoted to the graduated adaptation failure. It should be noted that the theory underlines mother’s failure in satisfying needs and stresses that it usually leads to temporary deprivation compensation produced by understanding and mental activity. One should note that infant tends to learn the toleration for longer periods of instinctual tensions and his ego needs.

Winnicott managed to centralize the micro-interactions observed between the child and his mother stating that thee interactions are the background of the internal world development. The stage of omnipotence illusions and child’s connection with his mother moves slowly into the phase of objective reality (relative dependence); this stage means that the child becomes aware of his dependence and evaluates loss. It should be noted that in case of mother’s failure to satisfy all the needs of her child one can observe easy child’s adaptation to external realities. With the development of the infant the mother is completely aware of infant’s ego integration increasing and his ability to survive; so, as a result she stops being empathic. She tends to dose her failures to the tolerated ones and thus, the infant’s ego is constantly strengthening. The infant is able to clarify between me and not-me, relinquish omnipotence; one can observe the emergence of the sense of reality. At this stage mother is perceived as a separate individual and the infant faces the development of capacity for concern. The sense of independence is usually developed at this very period with the help of mother’s behavior. It should be noted that the emergency of the false self experience in future is consider to be the result of this stage failure.

The theory developed by Winnicott is focused on the idea to provide the methods of allowing the child to feel the loosening rather than shocking state of being dropped. Winnicott tried to show the methods of how to predict negative child’s formation and create the sense of complete control.

According to Winnicott the final stage of infant’s development devoted to independence formation cannot be regarded absolute; it is explained by the fact that the child is not isolated. He stated that the role of the mother is aimed at illusion creation for the purpose of providing early comfort and disillusion formation in order to introduce the child into the social life. Winnicott concentrated on the fact that mother could not be perceived as the illusion product, something good or bad, but she is independent entity.

Winnicott stressed the idea that the introduction of the good-enough mother is of great importance for the psychotherapeutic context. It provides substitution for the principle model of the therapist’s attitude to the patient. An analyst is to display all the tolerance and patience of the mother’s behavior aimed at her attitude with the child; he is to clarify the patient’s needs and reject all other interests for the purpose of being objective and available to provide what is needed by the patience. Winnicott stated that psychotherapist should present an appropriate holding environment providing the client with the opportunity to meet the necessities of neglected ego and allow the emergency of the true self. Winnicott underlined the fact that in the process of client understanding by the psychotherapist, it is necessary to form the mental picture of the client’s mother compulsory. The therapist is to decide how far the patient’s mother is from the model of a good-enough mother.

The Theory of the True Self and the False Self by Winnicott

The introduction of the notion “self” is devoted to the identification of object and ego at the same time. Psychosomatic organization, which emerged from “unintegration” state, is considered to be the basic element of the “self” formation. Winnicott’s theory is divided into two basic element examined by the author:

True Self;
False Self.

Winnicott stated that the instinctive core element of individuality is considered to be True self; according to the author it is the abilities of enacting and recognizing the needs for self-expression.

“Only the true self can be creative and only the true self can feel real” (Roazen, p. 115).

According to the author the true self is to have the sense of connected wholeness and integrity. It should be noted that this aliveness experience and spontaneous self are considered to be the center of authenticity. At the moment of gesture expression by the infant one can observe the first sign of the true self existence and functioning. The mother’s responsiveness gives a start to the strengthening of the true self. It is important to stress that the mother’s attitude and behavior are the principle components of this developmental process: it means that the good enough mother is completely responsive to the omnipotence illusion of the infant making sense of it. The aspect of the true self existence is closely connected with the optimal responsiveness of the mother and spontaneous expression of the infant.

The second aspect of the theory is based on the exploration of the False Self notion. The author stressed the idea that this term is merely used in case the person is to follow social codes or comply with various external rules. Winnicott underlined the fact that the false self is presented as a kind of false person’s mask provided for the purpose of relationship maintenance others’ demands anticipation. Winnicott stated that in case the mother is not related to the good enough, she cannot respond to the needs of her infants and a result her gestures are substituted by the infant’s compliance. It is necessary to add that the initial mode of the false self development is considered to be the compliance repeated. The false self used to react to the demands of the infant who accepts them. One should underline the fact that the false self formation is the background for the false relationships organizations. Winnicott determined the basic function of the false self stating that it is defensive. He explained that the false self actions are aimed at the protection of the true self from wounding, threat or destruction. It is a kind of unconscious process because the false self is perceived as mistaken one for the others’ true self. Winnicott explains that in case of social success or some gains the feeling of unreality will be present all the same.

Deepening into the theory of True and False self it is important to stress that it was based on the notion “self” introduced by Sigmund Freud. Winnicott underlined the existence of the True and False self in one person at the same time; this organization can be viewed from the position of the pathological and healthy false self. The true self is always partially hidden despite the fact that it expresses vitality and authenticity of the person; the false self is regarded as adaptation process to the environment. To compare these two notions it should be mentioned that the true self is connected with the expression of real, while the false self is aimed at the presentation of unreal feelings or futility sense. The false self can be considered as healthy in case it functions not only for the person but for the society as well. Winnicott stated that insufficient capacity for using poverty and symbols is provided through split of high degree observed between true and false self. In such cases the person is usually restlessness and disabled to concentrate which result in uncomfortable atmosphere and interaction with the external world.

The analysis of Winnicott’s theory of true and false self showed that the psychologist focused on the Freud’s study of the “self” and tried to combine it with the theory of good-enough mother underlining the significance of their interaction. To show the depth of the problem the author tried to highlight the effects of the formation process of the true or false self. It should be noted that this theory is considered to be a valuable contribution made by Winnicott to the development of psychological study.

Concluding Part

Margaret Mahler and Donald Winnicott provided profound contribution to the psychological science. The developments of their theories are considered to be the principle part of modern child’s treatment. The analysis of their studies gave an opportunity to evaluate the beneficial side of their theories. It is important to stress that both of them tried to concentrate on the mother-infants relationships developed from the first days of the child’s life.

Margaret Mahler managed to disclose gradual progressive stages of child’s development highlighting the aspects of ego psychology development. She focused on the effects of mother and child separation and the infant’s interaction with the external world. Her exploration of psychosis peculiarities appeared to be important for psychoanalytic treatment. Donald Winnicott as well as Margaret provided various stages of early development. He depicted the image of the perfect and good-enough mother underlining their role in the infant’s psychic formation.

The theorists under analysis managed to provide studies being an integral part of modern psychiatry. The interactions of the infants and external reality, the role of the mother at early stages of child’s development and method’s of psychic treatments are considered to be the background knowledge of contemporary specialists.

References

Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and Reality. New York: Routledge, 1971.
Motivation, Learning and Children’s Development. (2007). Winnicott: Transitional Objects and transitional phenomena.
Roazen, Paul. (2001). The Historiography of Psychoanalysis. Transaction. New York.
Mahler, Margaret. (1991). Psychological Birth of the Human Infant: Symbiosis and Individuation. Karnac Books, 308 p.
Flores, Phillip. (1996). Group Psychotherapy with addicted populations: An Integration of Twelve-Step and Psychodynamic Theory. Haworth Press, 657 p.

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