The development of mirror self recognition (MSR) in different cultural environments
Final Report Abstract
In this study we compared similarities and differences in the development of mirror self-recognition in four sociocultural contexts in which mothers emphasize the development of autonomy and relatedness fo different degrees. Applying a cross-sequential study design we compared a prototypically autonomous (Osnabrück, Germany) to a autonomous-relational (Delhi) and two relational (rural India and rural Nso, Cameroon) sociocultural contexts and found that MSR develops earlier in those sociocultural contexts that emphasize the development of autonomy. Looking at cMSR, 100% of the urban 19-month-cohorts have recognized at least once out of six assessments whereas cMSR scores do not reach 70% in the rural Indian cohorts and are 85% in the last week of the oldest cohort in the rural Nso sample when toddlers are 22.5 months old. Furthermore, toddlers fram the rural samples needed significanfiy more time to show mark-directed behavior. The data indicate that crosscultural differences (urban vs. rural) can be explained by different degrees of mirror familiarity (significant C1 x week interaction) and culture-specific norms of expressive behavior (marked hand and marked mother). However, these factors explain only a small percentage of the the cross-cultural variation found. The consistent positive correlations between MSR and pronoun use in the rural sample further support the interpretation oft hat mirror selfrecognition as an indicator of the categorical self concept. The first microanalysis, comparing week 1-data from the Osnabrück and airal Nso 18- and 19-month-old toddlers found that rural Nso toddlers looked at the mirror and their mirror image about three times longer and they showed more experimenting and playmate behavior than Osnabrück toddlers. Furthermore, they more often tried to get into the mirror, looked behind the mirror, and touched the mirror with their face. A second microanalysis on all other cohorts in all four sociocultural contexts showed that experimenting generally occurred most often in the rural Nso sample, followed by the two Indian samples and then the Osnabrück sample. Playmate behavior occurred significantly more often in the rural than in the urban samples. Again, it occurred most often in the rural Nso sample. Interestingly, of all behavioral categories analyzed in the microanalyses only self-referential pointing was related to MSR-status in that self-recognizers more often pointed at themselves in the mirror. All other behaviors, e.g. playmate and experimenting, were not related to MSR. In conclusion, it seems as if the sociocultural contexts influences the onset of mirror self-recognition as an indicator of the categorical self concept.
Publications
- (2005). Self recognition in different sociocultural environments. Paper presented at the XII European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ESDP), La Laguna. Tenerife (Spain), 24.-28. August
Kärtner, J., Keller. H., & Yovsi, R.
- (2006). The development of an early self concept in different sociocultural environments. Paper presented at the 18th Congress of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology (lACCP), Isle of Spetses, Greece, 11.-15. July
Kärtner. J., & Keller, H.
- (2008). Development of the early self in urban and rural cultural contexts. Paper presented at the 19th Congress of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology (lACCP), Bremen, Germany, 27.-31. July
Vhadera, P., Kärtner, J., Yovsi, R., & Gupta. D.
- (2008). Sociocultural influences on the development of the categorical self concept. Poster presented at the 20th biennal meeting of the International Society fort he Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) at Würzburg, 13.-17. July
Kärtner, J., Keller, H., Yovis, R., & Chaudhary, N.
- (2008). Who are you and what am I? Processes of the self-other understanding in India. Paper presented at the 19th Congress of the Intemational Association of CnDss-Cultural Psychology (lACCP), Bremen, Gennany, 27.- 31. July.
Bhargava, P. & Gupta, D.
