Igor Caruso identified the origins of socialization in the prenatal stage, during which contacts with the mother already exist in many ways, so that the acceptance or conscious or unconscious rejection of the child in training acquires a not inconspicuous meaning. Already in this phase the primary narcissism is already developed, which, as is known since the beginning of psychoanalysis, is the basic source of all loving relationship.

Thus, this primary narcissistic stage, which covers up to the first two years of life, is the basis of a happy union between mother and child, which in turn represents for the child the foundation for other social relations. If this narcissism is disturbed in the prenatal period or immediately after, all subsequent social mechanisms become unhinged. The consequence is the “autistic catastrophe,” the neurotic orientation toward the following narcissistic forms.

Caruso also studies the problem of “self-us” and adaptation functions, these socialization factors can only be effective and experienced positively when the first narcissistic phase has passed successfully.