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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Research suggests that between the ages of 18 months and 2 years old, a child will understand that the person they see in a mirror is a representation of themselves. I think we know this because there was an influential study done years ago where small marks were placed on babies' arms and then they would react to those marks based only on their reflection in the mirror.
Closer to the age of 4, a child starts to understand more about their reflection in a mirror. Specifically, they realize that what they're seeing is something that everyone else can see. I imagine this is a major milestone in their self-awareness and development.
Why do I bring all this up? Because we've been spending so much time studying babies in mirrors that we've neglected the crucial field of bear/mirror research. As I watched this video of a bear peering into a mirror in the woods, I had no idea whether the bear views itself as an adversary, friend, or even a reflection of itself.
What do you think was going through this bear's mind as it examined the mirror? And, perhaps more importantly, who is going around placing these mirrors in the wild?
