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Daniel Stern's spædbarn

Abstract

Historical perspectives about the changing self are introduced in order to make relative any theory about the self. Daniel Stem's position within psychoanalysis and developmental psychology is discussed, particularly as contrasted by Margaret Mahler. Selected
dimensions of Stem's theory are presented and discussed in relation to the development of pre-verbal selves. Stem 's theory is located within an universal and essentialist tradition. Problems connected with this paradigm are discussed in the light of contextual
and cross-cultural psychology. An extrapolation of Daniel Stem' s theory is attempted within a contextual framework.