How can we understand different mental health issues through the Maturity Model framework, and why is it important that we do so?
Thinking: The Ability To Have Abstract Thought
| Infant | No “thoughts” |
| Toddler | Magical thinking |
| School Age | Concrete & logical thinking (durable categories: black and white) |
| Adolescence | Abstract reasoning |
Thinking: Understanding the Concept Time
| Infant | Now (no future, no past) |
| Toddler | Magical future & past |
| School Age | Clocks & calendars |
| Adolescence | Beginning of a realistic past & future A+B = C |
Self and Other: The ability to See Another Human As a Separate Person
| Infant | Not separate |
| Toddler | Puppet (magical) |
| School Age | Puppet (practical) |
| Adolescence | Differentiates self from parents |
Empathy For Others
| Infant | Not applicable |
| Toddler | Self-focus (narcissism) |
| School Age | “Pseudo” or mirror empathy-only for those who are like me |
| Adolescence | True empathy |
Ethics: Internalized Ability to Tell Right From Wrong
| Infant | Not applicable |
| Toddler | Avoid punishment |
| School Age | Earn rewards & learn to follow rules |
| Adolescence | Social ethic |
Ego Strength: Manage Anxiety And Solve Problems
| Infant | Cries out |
| Toddler | Looks to transitional object or parents for soothing |
| School Age | Work through anxiety through play, learns to solve problems |
| Adolescence | Emotional regulation & solves own problems |