Kinesthetic‐Visual Matching and the Self‐Concept as Explanations of Mirror‐Self‐Recognition

Since its inception as a topic of inquiry, mirror‐self‐recognition has usually been explained by two models: one, initiated by Guillaume, proposes that mirror‐self‐recognition depends upon kinesthetic‐visual matching, and the other, initiated by Gallup, that self‐recognition depends upon a self‐concept. These two models are examined historically and conceptually. This examination suggests that the kinesthetic‐visual matching model is conceptually coherent and makes reasonable and accurate predictions; and that the self‐concept model is conceptually incoherent and makes inaccurate predictions from premises which are themselves inaccurate. From a theoretical (and empirical) standpoint, the kinesthetic‐visual matching model is the better explanation of self‐recognition.