According to recent pediatric studies (whodunit escapes me), an infant, at 3 months of age, can look into a mirror, and recognize itself. The mirror needs to be close enough for baby to see, but the recognition is there. If a colored dot is placed someplace on they baby's face or on the mirror, a baby with self-esteem will laugh at the dot, and start learning how to reach for the object that is unexpected or doesn't belong to restore 'normal'. A baby with low self-esteem, looking at the dot, will look away, cry, or avoid the face in the mirror. Thsi baby has a sense or 'normal'. How did that happen?
Babies with self-esteem. You must have a sense of self, to have esteem. Is it this early? Certainly this develops through life, and becomes more complex. But the rudimentary biological foundation for self awareness in humans is likely present from birth. BIRTH. Wow. Mind Blowing, isn't it?
Are we self aware when we can see ourselves move, or when we can feel, and learn that we have control over our environment??? This question really begs for the definition of the term self-aware.
Arguably, some people are never self aware enough to be successful at life, or achieve happiness or healthy relationships, which indicates that this is also a learned behavior, which is both emotional, and social. We can be crippled in this regard due to mental illness, injury, defect, or emotional trauma. Effectively, retarded in our self-awareness growth curve.
An interesting topic, better suited for discussion or debate than blind assertion, but there are my thoughts, and I hope you've enjoyed reading them.
