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Migration and growth: separation-individuation processes in immigrant students in Israel
1Student Counseling Services, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Immigrant students in Israel face separation from their homeland, impacting their psychological development. This immigration experience, when navigated successfully, can foster adolescent individuation and personal growth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Immigration Studies
Background:
- Immigration involves separation from homeland and associated internal representations.
- Adolescence is a critical period for separation-individuation and identity formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the central experiences of immigrant students in Israel.
- To conceptualize immigration as a separation-individuation process interacting with adolescent development.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of immigrant students' experiences.
- Application of Margaret Mahler's separation-individuation model.
Main Results:
- Immigration triggers separation from homeland and self-representations linked to it.
- The immigration process intersects with adolescent individuation, reviving developmental conflicts.
- Successful navigation of these conflicts during absorption can facilitate adolescent growth.
Conclusions:
- Immigration can be a catalyst for psychological separation and individuation in adolescents.
- The interplay between immigration and adolescent development can lead to significant personal growth.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for supporting immigrant students' adaptation and development.