2B.1. Self during Infancy

Today, we are going to dive into self-awareness. Can anyone tell me what they think self-awareness means?

Is it about knowing who we are?

Exactly! It's recognizing yourself as distinct from others. In infants, this awareness develops gradually. They start without any awareness and grow into recognizing themselves around 18 months.

How do they know it's themselves?

Great question! We often test this through something called the 'mirror test.' When infants can touch a mark on their cheek instead of the mirror, we know they recognize themselves.

What happens before they can do that?

Before this, they see their hands and feet but don’t know they belong to them. This is why the development of self-awareness is crucial in infancy.

So, it’s like a process of discovery?

Exactly! Self-awareness unfolds as infants grow and interact with their world. Let’s summarize: Infants don’t start with self-awareness; it develops significantly by 18 months as they recognize themselves in a mirror.

Continuing from yesterday, let's talk about milestones. What do you think changes for an infant as they develop self-awareness?

Maybe they start talking about themselves?

Exactly! By the end of their second year, they begin using personal pronouns like 'I', 'me', and 'my'.

How do parents help with this?

Parents play a crucial role. They engage in interactions that help children articulate their experiences and understand personal ownership. Activities like pointing out body parts and using names attach identity to them.

If they can’t recognize themselves, how do they show emotions?

Good point! They express emotions but do not link those feelings to a sense of self yet. As they develop, this link becomes clearer.

Can a baby know who their parents are?

Yes! But it’s a different kind of recognition than understanding themselves. They recognize caregivers as significant in their lives, which is part of forming social relations.

To conclude, infants gain milestones of self-awareness slowly through language development and social interactions.

Today, let’s talk about why recognizing oneself is so important. Why do you think self-recognition matters?

It probably helps them to know their actions have consequences.

Great insight! Self-recognition is fundamental for understanding that their actions can affect their environment and relationships.

Does that help them later in life?

Absolutely! It lays the groundwork for forming social identities and navigating social relationships further along in development.

What about their emotions?

As they develop self-awareness, they not only understand who they are but also recognize their feelings, which contributes to emotional intelligence.

So, it’s like laying the foundation for who they will become?

Exactly! Self-recognition sets the stage for personal growth, interpersonal skills, and emotional health as they continue to grow. To summarize: recognizing oneself is vital for emotional development and creating social relationships.