Bases for the Infant’s Developing Self-Awareness

Abstract

The traditional and adualistic Pigagetian view on the infant''s conception of self is examined. An alternative position is suggested in which the infant can be assumed to hold a differentiated self/other world view. The world contains systematic information that specifies the existence of self for the neonate and infant. This information further provides grounds for the differentiation of self from other. To support this position, I present thirteen separate sources of information-in-the-world that specify the existence of ''self'' and are available to the neonate. In light of this information, we may profitably begin our theorizing from the assumption that the infant is prestructured to perceive its own existence in the world as independent from the other elements of its existential context.