ABSTRACT
D. W. Winnicott postulates three stages of dependency: "absolute dependence", "relative dependence", and "towards independence". The infant’s successful negotiation of the first two stages of dependency relies on a good-enough environmental provision from the very beginning. Essentially, Winnicott views the individual’s emotional development as journeying from absolute dependence to independence. Winnicott often refers to the “fact” of dependence at the beginning of life. It is valuable to recognize the fact of dependence. The fact of dependence of the infant’s predicament at the beginning of life is the holding phase. The foundation of the mental health of the individual is laid down at the very beginning when the mother is simply being devoted to her infant, and when the infant is doubly dependent because totally unaware of dependence. The dawn of intelligence in the infant derives from the holding phase of absolute dependence, and it develops into the infant’s ability to understand intellectually by the time of relative dependence.
