An evolutionary view of self-awareness

• Published in: Behavioural processes Vol. 194; p. 104543
• Main Authors: Lage, Caio A., Wolmarans, De Wet, Mograbi, Daniel C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Adaptation; Animals; Awareness; Biological Evolution; Humans; Metacognition; Perception; Self-awareness; Self-recognition; Theory of mind; Self-awareness; Theory of mind; Self-recognition; Metacognition; Adaptation
• ISSN: 0376-6357; 1872-8308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104543

The capacity to be self-aware is regarded as a fundamental difference between humans and other species. However, growing evidence challenges this notion, indicating that many animals show complex signs and behaviors that are consonant with self-awareness. In this review, we suggest that many animals are indeed self-aware, but that the complexity of this process differs among species. We discuss this topic by addressing several different questions regarding self-awareness: what is self-awareness, how has self-awareness been studied experimentally, which species may be self-aware, what are its potential adaptive advantages. We conclude by proposing alternative models for the emergence of self-awareness in relation to species evolutionary paths, indicating future research questions to advance this field further.
•Self-awareness is the result of gradual development in the course of evolution•Self-awareness can be divided into components, with different levels•Distinct species show different levels of self-awareness•The recurrence of self-awareness across species suggests key adaptive advantages