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Mirror‐image response during the first two years of life
Author(s) -
Schulman Allan H.,
Kaplowitz Cheryl
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.420100206
Subject(s) - psychology , face (sociological concept) , developmental psychology , mirror image , simple (philosophy) , sequence (biology) , cognitive psychology , communication , geometry , mathematics , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology , biology , genetics
Children aged 1–24 months viewed themselves in planar or distorted mirrors that were either clear or partially occluded. Analysis of videotaped records revealed that interest in viewing one's face did not vary with age among the 1‐ to 24‐month‐old subjects. All performed the simple behaviors of observing themselves although the older ones performed more complex (related) behaviors. Neither the flat nor the distorted mirror exposure was preferred suggesting that the infant observes the general configuration of the face for its intrinsic interest. Specific developmental trends were noted in the kind and amount of activity during the 1st 2 years of life culminating in a sequence of behaviors that suggested self‐recognition.