The Occurrence And Development Of Infants' Self-Recognition And Their Relationships With Mother-Infant Attachment

Self-recognition refers to perception of the self as a separate being, distinct from people and objects in the surrounding world, and forming the concept of who I am in the interact with others. Based on the comprehensively theoretical and empirical studies, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the occurrence and development of infants' self-recognition and their relationships with mother-infant attachment.Study 1: A longitudinal study of the occurrence of infants' self-recognition was conducted. In order to investigate the occurring time of self-recognition, a longitudinal design was used. The microgenetic approach was adopted to assess 15 toddlers aged 15 months to 23 months by video on weekly basis. The occurring time of self-recognition and individual differences were evaluated.Study 2: A cross-sectional study of the occurrence of infants' self-recognition was conducted. In order to investigate the occurring time of self-recognition, a cross-sectional design was used. On the basis of longitudinal study, the present study was intended to investigate the occurring time of 14 to 24 months of age infants' self-recognition by means of the experiment of mirror self-recognition, situational observation and interview method through cross-sectional design.Study 3: A research of the developmental characteristics of 18 to 24 months of age infants' self-recognition was conducted. Based on laboratory experiment and situational obserbation, a longitudinal design was used in order to investigate the developmental trendencies and individual differences of 18 to 24 months of age infants' self-recognition.Study 4: The relation between mother-infant attachment and infants' self-recognition was investigated. The present study was intended to investigate the security of mother-infant attachment at 18 months and infants' self-recognition at 18 to 24 months, and analyze the relation between attachment and self-recognition.Based on the above studies' results analysis and discussions, the present research generally discussed the occurring time and developmental characteristic of infants' self-recognition, and the relationships with mother-infant attachment. The main conclusions were drawn as follow: 1. The ability to self-recognition occurred and developed between 15 months and 23 months, and it showed a developmental tendency with the increase of age.2. The general occurring time of visual self-recognition was the 17^th month; and no gender differences was shown in the occurring process of visual self-recognition.3. The indices of visual self-recognition occurred successively: the mirror self-recognition was the earliest sign of visual self-recognition, and it was followed by the ability of object-locating from its mirror image, and photo identification emerged last.4. The general occurring time of verbal self-recognition was 21st month. There were significant gender differences as a whole. More girls were found to have the abilities of verbal self-recognition than boys; but there were no significant gender differences in verbal self-recognition.5. Infants' verbal self-recognition experienced the development from using names to represent themselves to using the first pronouns to represent themselves.6. Visual self-recognition could predict verbal self-recognition. The earlier was the occurring time of infants' visual self-recognition appeared, the earlier their verbal self-recognition was occurred later.7. The ability of self-recognition showed a developmental tendency with the increase of age. The older they became and the more complex task they passed, the higher the complexity level of self-recognition was achieved.8. There were individual differences in the development rate. Some developed quickly, some developed slowly, and some developed gently.9. Gender differences in the development of infants' self-recognition were changed with the increase of age. Girls were higher in the level of self-recognition than boys at 18 months, but there were no significant gender differences at the point of 21 months and 24 months.10. There were significant positive correlations between the security of mother-infant attachment at 18 months and infants' self-recognition at 18 to 24 months. The security of mother-infant attachment at 18 months could predict the development of self-recognition at 18 to 24 months. Compared to those with low attachment security, the secure infants showed higher development complexity in self-recognition.11. Both high and low groups with security of attachment progressed well in their abilities of self-recognition, only that the high group infants showed level of self-recognition than the low group.