Lecture 4

Question 1

What is self-consciousness

Answer 1

A thought or ability to reflect on the self. Concept of self or an idea of me

Question 2

When does an infant develop self-consciousness

Answer 2

Around 18 months to 2 years

Question 3

How do we know if someone has self-consciousness

Answer 3

When they pass the mirror self-recognition test

Question 4

What other species have self-consciousness

Answer 4

All the great apes, bottlenose dolphins, elephants and magpies

Question 5

Discuss the concept of self in terms of Michael Lewis

Answer 5

Allows the development of self-conscious affects such as embarrassment, pride, empathy and jealousy. At 3 years onwards these emotions can be linked to attention and internalised standards

Question 6

Discuss Lewis’s findings on when self-conscious affectivity begins

Answer 6

18 months = a response to received attention to self. 36 months = a response to evaluation of self

Question 7

How does self-conscious affectivity occur

Answer 7

Concept of self, and understanding norms = emotions

Question 8

Discuss the problems with the standard view of self-consciousness

Answer 8

Do self-conscious affects derive from conceptual change, or could the direction of effect be the other way around.

Question 9

Discuss Izard, Hobson & Reddy’s findings

Answer 9

2 month olds respond to received attention to self. 7/8 months response to received attention to self’s actions

Question 10

Discuss 2-4 month olds actions to hide the self and expose the self

Answer 10

Hide self = coy smiles at onset of interaction. Exposing = calling loudly to engagement

Question 11

Discuss 7-12 month olds actions to hide the self and expose the self

Answer 11

Hide = coy/watchful refusal to perform or interaction with strangers. Exposing = Showing off & vigorous performance

Question 12

Discuss 18 month olds actions to hide the self and expose the self

Answer 12

Hide = Coy/embarrassment at over-praise. Exposing = preening/self-admiring

Question 13

Discuss 36 month olds actions to hide the self and expose the self

Answer 13

Hide = Embarrassment and shame to evaluations. Extended coy smiles. Exposing = pride to evaluations

Question 14

Are infants aware of other’s attention

Answer 14

Traditional views = not until 10 months because they need a concept. Gazes are just a behaviour. The alternative view said from birth but limited and increases in scope. Attention is IN the gaze, not behind it.

Question 15

How can we feel others attention

Answer 15

It can be experienced and observed, but MUST be experienced for a typical development of understanding

Question 16

Does attention develop?

Answer 16

Not the discovery of it, but an expanding awareness of different things people can attend to. At 2 months its just self, 7-10 months is self acts, 10-14 months is things in space and 12-24 months is things in time

Question 17

What does attention to self lead to

Answer 17

Different emotional reactions as early as 2 - 3 months, with continuities in response through the first year

Question 18

Why might objects of attention expand

Answer 18

Experience of attention, primary motivator and medium. Seeking novelty - adult expansion of topics alerts and marks new aspects of the world. A mutually expanding ZPD drive by primary experience of attention.

Question 19

Discuss the problems in autism

Answer 19

Avoidnance, constrained and no coy. Unresponsive, avoidant, deficits & forumlaic, problematic in some contexts