Eeeeenteresting: How children respond to the classic mirror self-recognition test seems to be heavily influenced by culture. The test gauges whether someone can recognize that a mirror reflection is actually themselves. Passing it has long been touted as a signifier of growing mental awareness, possibly related to the development of empathy, with some 70% of kids passing by 24 months of age. But, apparently, those results only hold true in the West. And researchers say the discrepancy isn't a sign of delayed development, but, rather, cultural norms that discourage kids from asking questions and encourage them to wait for direction from an adult. If culture can influence results this much—6-year-olds in Kenya weren't passing—then we have to take another look both at whether this test can really measure anything fundamental about brain development, and whether the animals that didn't pass the test over the years can really be said to not recognize themselves in a mirror.
Cultural differences throw wrench into classic psychology test
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