Self-Recognition in Toddlers

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A variety of studies, such as the ones described below, have been conducted over the years in an attempt to explain and examine the emergence of self-recognition in infants. As a result the general consensus is that infants as young as 15 months old and most infants by 24-month are able to respond to their image in a mirror (Anderson, 2005). Research has also shown there are various self-conscious reactions and self-labeling that also indicate the toddler has self-recognition during the second year, though more research is needed to test their validity (Anderson, 2005).

Keller et al. (2005) conducted a study to look at the development of self-conceptions within a cultural context. The study looked at toddlers’ between the age of 18 to 20 months from two different backgrounds; German middle-class families and Cameroonian Nso farmers. The findings from the study concluded German toddlers were able to recognize themselves more often than the Nso toddlers. Keller et al. (2005) believed this was caused by behavioral rates, parenting strategies, and toddler developmental achievements. Researchers named the level of contingent responsiveness as the mechanism responsible for mirror self-recognition (Keller et al., 2005). Another finding from the study showed that Nso toddlers generally showed less behavior than German toddlers while they were in front of the mirror (Keller et al., 2005). 60% of the Nso toddlers would just sit in front of the mirror, while the German toddlers tried the engage the mirror reflection in play (Keller et al., 2005).

Bertenthal and Fischer (1978) conducted a study with the intention of looking at the five-staged developmental sequences of self-recognition behaviors in infants between the ages of 6 and 24 mont...

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...04. doi:10.1080/01650250500147485

Mans, L., Cicchetti, D., & Sroufe, L. (1978). Mirror reactions of Down's syndrome infants and toddlers: Cognitive underpinnings of self-recognition. Child Development, 49(4), 1247-1250. doi:10.2307/1128771

Mitchell, R. W. (1992). Developing concepts in infancy: Animals, self-perception, and two theories of mirror self-recognition. Psychological Inquiry, 3(2), 127-130. doi:10.1207/s15327965pli0302_9

Nielsen, M., & Dissanayake, C. (2004). Pretend play, mirror self-recognition and imitation: A longitudinal investigation through the second year. Infant Behavior & Development, 27(3), 342-365. doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2003.12.006

Vyt, A. (2001). Processes of visual self-recognition in infants: Experimental induction of 'mirror' experiences via video self-image presentation. Infant And Child Development, 10(4), 173-187. doi:10.1002/icd.277

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