When do infants typically begin to develop self-concept?

Infants typically begin to develop self-concept around 12 months of age. During this period, they start to recognize themselves as separate individuals, which means they begin to understand their own identity and how they relate to the world around them. This developmental milestone is marked by an increasing awareness of their own feelings, abilities, and how others perceive them.

At around 12 months, you may notice behaviors such as children becoming more aware when they see their reflection in a mirror or when they react to their name being called. They start to show preferences and express emotions that indicate early forms of self-awareness, which are foundational elements of self-concept.

While aspects of identity and self-awareness can be seen as early as 6 months—like responding to their own name—it's not until around the age of 2 that they fully develop a clearer and more sophisticated understanding of themselves in relation to others, including the use of personal pronouns. Therefore, the accurate timeframe for the emergence of self-concept begins to take shape more noticeably at 12 months.