Individual differences in visual self-recognition as a function of mother–infant attachment relationship.

Investigated whether individual differences in visual self-recognition are related to infants' early social relations by comparing 37 infants' attachment relationships at 12 mo of age to their visual self-recognition at both 18 and 24 mo of age. Infants and their mothers were observed in a modified strange-situation procedure (M. D. Ainsworth et al, 1978) when the infants were 12 mo old. Infants were seen again at 18 and 24 mo of age in the standard mirror-recognition procedure. Consistent with previous studies, self-recognition behavior increased from 18 to 24 mo of age. Individual differences in early attachment relations were related to later self-recognition. In particular, insecurely attached infants showed a trend toward earlier self-recognition than did securely attached infants. Results are discussed in terms of the relation between attachment and individuation. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)