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Self-Recognition

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Definition

Self-recognition refers to recognizing the “self” as separate from others. The term self encompasses various modalities (e.g., physical, emotional, psychological) which are unique and representative of an individual. Generally, attributes of self are categorized as either physical or psychological. Physical aspects of the self (e.g., face) typically refer to material embodiments of the self and awareness of personal agency, whereas psychological characteristics include multiple cognitive constructs such as personality traits and subjective perspectives (Gillihan and Farah 2005). The ability to self-recognize can be used as an index of self-awareness as well as an early developmental marker. A face is among the earliest and the most common embodied representations of one’s self. Self-face recognition occurs between 18 and 24 months and is considered crucial for the development of a self-concept and successful social behavior as it signals the emergence of sophisticated...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayes Lab, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Emily Kilroy

Authors
  1. Emily Kilroy
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Kilroy, E. (2021). Self-Recognition. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_752

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