PSY 333 Exam 5 Study Guide: Advanced Topics in Abnormal Psychology Review
At what age can human babies recognize themselves in a mirror? - ANS ✔✔After the first year
of life.
At what age can chimpanzees recognize themselves in a mirror? - ANS ✔✔Self recognition in
mirrors has not been observed in chimps younger than 2.5 years of age.
It occurs commonly after 4 years of age (peaks) and appears to decline after around age 15.
Name some species that have been successful at mirror self recognition... - ANS ✔✔-
Orangutans
- Dolphins
- Gorillas
- Elephants
- Magpie birds
Manta Rays & Mirrors READING - ANS ✔✔Manta rays are the first fish to recognize themselves
in a mirror.
Giant manta rays have been observed checking out their reflections in a way that suggests they
are self aware.
They did not show signs of social interaction with the image, which is what you would expect if
they perceived it to be another individual. Instead, the rays repeatedly moved their fins and
circled in front of the mirror . This suggests they could see whether their reflection moved when
they moved. The frequency of these movements was much higher when the mirror was in the
tank than when it was not.
, Pigs & Mirrors READING - ANS ✔✔Researchers present evidence that domestic pigs can quickly
learn how mirrors work and will use their understanding of reflected images to scope out their
surroundings and find their food.
The researchers cannot yet say whether the animals realize that the eyes in the mirror are their
own.
Other researchers have found that pigs are brilliant at remembering where food stores are
cached and how big each stash is relative to the rest. They've shown that Pig A can almost
instantly learn to follow Pig B when the second pig shows signs of knowing where good food is
stored, and that Pig B will try to deceive the pursuing pig and throw it off the trail so that Pig B
can hog its food in peace.
The mark test... - ANS ✔✔Gordon Gallup (1997):
- Animal is anesthetized.
- Marked with ink.
- Given access to a mirror after they wake up.
- If they touch the mark, this demonstrates self recognition.
- Argued that this self recognition is indicative of self awareness.
Counter argument:
- The animal may just get bored and return to grooming while keeping a casual eye on the
mirror.
Counter argument to the counter argument:
- The animal is making a directed response to its own head as a result of something it could
have only seen in the mirror.
- However, numbers demonstrate that the difference between touching the marked spot on the
head with a mirror and without a mirror is not that great.
At what age can human babies recognize themselves in a mirror? - ANS ✔✔After the first year
of life.
At what age can chimpanzees recognize themselves in a mirror? - ANS ✔✔Self recognition in
mirrors has not been observed in chimps younger than 2.5 years of age.
It occurs commonly after 4 years of age (peaks) and appears to decline after around age 15.
Name some species that have been successful at mirror self recognition... - ANS ✔✔-
Orangutans
- Dolphins
- Gorillas
- Elephants
- Magpie birds
Manta Rays & Mirrors READING - ANS ✔✔Manta rays are the first fish to recognize themselves
in a mirror.
Giant manta rays have been observed checking out their reflections in a way that suggests they
are self aware.
They did not show signs of social interaction with the image, which is what you would expect if
they perceived it to be another individual. Instead, the rays repeatedly moved their fins and
circled in front of the mirror . This suggests they could see whether their reflection moved when
they moved. The frequency of these movements was much higher when the mirror was in the
tank than when it was not.
, Pigs & Mirrors READING - ANS ✔✔Researchers present evidence that domestic pigs can quickly
learn how mirrors work and will use their understanding of reflected images to scope out their
surroundings and find their food.
The researchers cannot yet say whether the animals realize that the eyes in the mirror are their
own.
Other researchers have found that pigs are brilliant at remembering where food stores are
cached and how big each stash is relative to the rest. They've shown that Pig A can almost
instantly learn to follow Pig B when the second pig shows signs of knowing where good food is
stored, and that Pig B will try to deceive the pursuing pig and throw it off the trail so that Pig B
can hog its food in peace.
The mark test... - ANS ✔✔Gordon Gallup (1997):
- Animal is anesthetized.
- Marked with ink.
- Given access to a mirror after they wake up.
- If they touch the mark, this demonstrates self recognition.
- Argued that this self recognition is indicative of self awareness.
Counter argument:
- The animal may just get bored and return to grooming while keeping a casual eye on the
mirror.
Counter argument to the counter argument:
- The animal is making a directed response to its own head as a result of something it could
have only seen in the mirror.
- However, numbers demonstrate that the difference between touching the marked spot on the
head with a mirror and without a mirror is not that great.
