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History of psychology and psychiatry

How Children Come To Recognize Themselves Could Benefit Their Adult Age

The Lacan's Mirror Stage: The Benefits of Becoming Conscious of Our Mental Mechanisms

Antonio Segovia, MD.
3 min readFeb 15, 2023

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Jacques Lacan's Mirror Stage has been widely studied in psychology and is often used to describe how children come to recognize themselves. But what implications does this theory have on our understanding of interpersonal relationships?

This article will explore how the mirror stage can explain social and interpersonal dynamics and the benefits of gaining insight into our mental mechanisms.

How the Mirror Stage Understands Self-Recognition

First, let's define Lacan's Mirror Stage Theory. According to this theory, a child learns to recognize themselves when they look in a mirror at around 18 months old.

Through this experience of identifying themselves in a reflection, they understand they exist as individuals separate from others.

Through this experience, children begin to form a sense of "self" or identity. Research has demonstrated that children who can recognize themselves in mirrors also display more contentment with their physical…

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Antonio Segovia, MD.
Antonio Segovia, MD.

Written by Antonio Segovia, MD.

Physician. Media and Journalism specialist. Scientific disclosure. Medicine, Mental Health, Psychology, Inspiration, Philosophy, Culture, Poetry, Books, Sports.

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