BBC Horizon's video "The Secret You" was a very interesting and informative video. I found the section where they talked about when humans become self aware to be very interesting. Becoming self aware is when an individual can differentiate between other people, animals and the environment and itself. This takes place during early childhood. Psychologists are saying on average children become self aware between the ages of 18 and 24 months. However, it is still unclear of how this transformation happens.
Most of the evidence given in support to children becoming self aware is from the Mirror-Self Recognition Test. In this test a child will be placed in front of a mirror and is given some time to look at the figure in the mirror. After awhile the child's mother will place a dot on the child's face without them knowing. The child will then go back to the mirror and look at the figure. If the child sees the dot on its face and takes it off then they have shown self awareness.
This video made me think back to my childhood and think of when I became self aware. Of course I could not think of it but I am sure that I looked into plenty of mirrors thinking there was someone on the other side of the wall. I also think its interesting that it still is a mystery of how the self awareness transformation happens. The only question I have is if all animals have a time when they become self aware like we do.
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