The Psychological Birth of the Human Infant: Symbiosis and Individuation [Hardcover]

Margaret S. Mahler (Author), Fred Pine (Author), Anni Bergman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1975 | ISBN-10: 0465066593 | ISBN-13: 978-0465066599 | Edition: 1st

Margaret S. Mahler and her collaborators break new ground in developmental psychology and present the first complete theoretical statement of Dr. Mahler’s observations on the normal separation-individuation process.Separation and individuation are presented in this major work as two complementary developments. Separation is described as the child’s emergence from a symbiotic fusion with the mother, while individuation consists of those achievements marking the child’s assumption of his own individual characteristics. Each of the subphases of separation-individuation is described in detail, supported by a wealth of clinical observations which trace the tasks confronting the infant and his mother as he progresses toward achieving his own individuality.A number of chapters are devoted to following five children epigenetically through their subphase development. A separate section describes the authors’ methodology, the importance of the research setting, and the effects of changes in the setting. The extensive appendices by Fred Pine discuss the uniqueness of the data-gathering techniques used by the authors. In addition, a useful glossary of concepts defines the new terms that Dr. Mahler has introduced.This book represents an important breakthrough in understanding the human infant and makes a unique contribution to the science of human behavior.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fred Pine is Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, author of Developmental Theory and Clinical Process (1985) and, with Margaret Mahler and Anni Bergman, The Psychological Birth of the Human Infant (Basic Books, 1975) and a practicing adult psychoanalyst.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1st edition (July 6, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465066593
• ISBN-13: 978-0465066599
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can understand this book, you will be able to understand adult psychopathology as the outcome of childhood deficits, February 9, 2009

By 

Marty (Napervile, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychological Birth Of The Human Infant Symbiosis And Individuation (Paperback)

This is a very important book to the professional who works with people of all ages. It focuses on what the child needs in the way of early attachment for the infant-toddler to feel secure and emotionally alive via the living relationship with the caretaker. If/when the attachment is not good enough to match the infants specific needs, then we can see the possible problems that can flow form this early deficit in attachment and follows into other forms of emotional issues. I would change the title of this book to include the importance of attachment as the necessary ingrediant facilitating the process of Individuation of the infant. This attachment is related to the bi-directional emotional cues between mother and infant (and father too) and the caretaker's responses.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars technical but good, October 18, 2008

By 

B. Kopeloff "dodey48" (Port Jefferson Station,NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Psychological Birth Of The Human Infant Symbiosis And Individuation (Paperback)

the first few chapters (120 pages)very technical and difficult for layman to read. However,if you take your time you will learn a lot. The case histories,however are easy to read and excellent-they teach you almost everything you need to know about infant and toddler psychology.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressions, January 29, 2002

By 

Steversmatrix "steversmatrix" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychological Birth Of The Human Infant Symbiosis And Individuation (Paperback)

Just like the mother-infant bond makes an indelible impression on the infant, this book's observations gives lasting insight into developmental psychology. Once you dredge through the early chapters' technical and academic expostions, you will learn alot from the individual cases. I plan to revisit this work as I continually encounter children in my practice.