The Self in Infancy

The origins of knowledge about the self is arguably the most fundamental problem of psychology.

It is a classic theme that has preoccupied great psychologists, beginning with William James and Freud.

On reading current literature, today's developmental psychologists and ethologists are clearly expressing a renewed interest in the topic.

Furthermore, recent progress in the study of infant and animal behavior, provides important and genuinely new insights regarding the origins of self-knowledge.

This book is a collection of current theoretical views and research on the self in early infancy, prior to self-identification and the well-documented emergence of mirror self-recognition.

The focus is on the early sense of self of the young infant.

Its aim is to provide an account of recent research substantiating the precursors of self-recognition and self-identification.

By concentrating on early infancy, the book provides an updated look at the origins of self-knowledge.