Psychoanalyst Margaret Mahler has proposed that an infant's first understanding of the self is based upon
A) feelings of being loved and cared for.
B) the ability to use pronouns correctly.
C) a growing ability to make things happen.
D) the ability to take the perspective of another person.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Margaret Mahler proposed that an infant's first understanding of the self is based upon a growing ability to make things happen, which she referred to as primary narcissism. This involves the infant's realization that they can have an impact on the environment and that they exist separately from it. This understanding lays the foundation for the development of a distinct sense of self.

Psychoanalyst Margaret Mahler Has Proposed That an Infant's First Understanding