The Structural Development of the Child Ego State

Abstract

The structural development of the Child ego state is considered from the perspective of two contemporary theories of human development. Daniel Stern's (1985) theories illuminate early infant development, and a combination of Stern's and Margaret Mahler's (Mahler, Pine, & Bergman, 1975) theories addresses later development (between 6 months and 4 years of age). Mahler views human development as beginning with connectedness and moving into separation and individuation; Stern starts by describing the development of a sense of self, which then leads into the development of connectedness. These theories can be regarded as two poles on the same continuum, and it is useful to integrate the phenomena they describe since these phenomena are integrated in the individual person.