Spiegeltesten

Spiegeltesten, or mirror tests, are behavioral assays used in comparative psychology to assess self-recognition in humans and non-human animals. The approach originated with Gordon Gallup Jr. in 1970 and has since become a widely cited, though debated, measure of self-awareness. In the classic version, a subject is allowed to view itself in a mirror after a non-toxic mark is placed on a part of the body it cannot see directly. If the subject uses the mirror to inspect or remove the mark, researchers interpret this as evidence that the animal recognizes the image as itself rather than as another individual.

Methodologies vary by species. Tests typically include acclimation to the testing environment, control conditions with sham marks, and systematic coding of behaviors such as looking into the mirror, self-directed grooming, and attempts to touch or investigate the marked area with the aid of the reflection. Results are interpreted as an index of self-recognition, though negative results do not definitively indicate the absence of self-awareness, as sensory modality and ecological relevance can influence performance.

Findings across species show clear self-recognition in some great apes, notably chimpanzees and orangutans, with more equivocal or mixed results in other animals such as certain dolphins and elephants under specific conditions. Results in birds, particularly corvids like magpies, are mixed, with some studies reporting evidence of self-recognition and others not. Many other species do not pass the test, or only do so under particular task configurations.

Criticism and limitations emphasize that the test relies heavily on vision and may not capture self-awareness in non-visual or scent-based species. Passing the test is not universally accepted as proof of robust self-awareness, and researchers often employ additional measures of cognition and social awareness to gain a fuller picture. See also: mirror test; self-awareness.