Mirror-image response during the first two years of life

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.