At birth, do infants have any sense of self?

At birth, do infants have any sense of self?

• A. Infants have no sense of self.
• B. Infants already have a developed self-concept.
• C. Infants can describe inner qualities.
• D. Infants identify social categories.

Answer: (A)

Self-awareness in infancy develops gradually, and at birth there isn’t a self-concept as a distinct, organized sense of “me.” Babies may respond to people and activities and even show early forms of agency in their own actions, but recognizing themselves as a separate person takes time. The well-established milestone for true self-recognition is the mirror test, where children typically start showing awareness of themselves around 18 to 24 months. That means the newborn does not yet have a developed self-identity, descriptions of inner qualities, or the ability to categorize themselves socially. Those abilities emerge later as cognitive and social understanding grows.

Self-awareness in infancy develops gradually, and at birth there isn’t a self-concept as a distinct, organized sense of “me.” Babies may respond to people and activities and even show early forms of agency in their own actions, but recognizing themselves as a separate person takes time. The well-established milestone for true self-recognition is the mirror test, where children typically start showing awareness of themselves around 18 to 24 months. That means the newborn does not yet have a developed self-identity, descriptions of inner qualities, or the ability to categorize themselves socially. Those abilities emerge later as cognitive and social understanding grows.