The Mirror Stage

           The mirror stage is a stage, developed by Jacques Lacan, in every child's life between the ages of six and eighteen months when a child discovers hers/his self in the mirror and realizes that the reflection is indeed reflecting their own unique person. Once this connection is made, the child begins to form first impressions of him/herself about both physical appearances and how she/he relates and fits in to the world around her/him (Gamel). For Lacan, when we look in the mirror, we “assume an image” – namely, a way of picturing ourselves (1286). A critical part of this concept is that the child can neither speak nor understand others speaking to him/her, so the impressions made about one's self are completely uninfluenced by others and/or society. Some may argue then, that within the mirror stage one experiences the truest and purest concept of self.

          Keeping this in mind, my professor posed the question: What do you think behaviorists are describing about someone when they say "s/he has not stopped looking in the mirror"?

          As I am not a behaviorist, my prediction may or may not be accurate, but never-the-less, I have an idea! While I do not believe that the saying "s/he has not stopped looking in the mirror" is referring to infants and young children, I do believe that it's purpose derives from Lacan's initial concept of the mirror stage. Just as an 8 month old child looks in the mirror and develops a pure, uninfluenced perception of them self, I believe think behaviorists are describing someone dwelling over their own perception of their self and trying to decode who they are as a person. Due to the fact that society has such a great influence on how we perceive ourselves, this process of analyzing who we truly are at our purest form would likely take a great among of time an effort.

Works Cited

Gamel, Terry. "Summary of Lacan‟s “The Mirror Stage as Formative of the Function of the I as Revealed in Psychoanalytic Experience”". Academia.edu. 2009. Web: http://www.academia.edu/1539509/Summary_of_Lacan_s_The_Mirror_Stage_as_Formative_of_the_Function_of_the_I_as_Revealed_in_Psychoanalytic_Experience_

Lacan, Jacques. “The Mirror Stage as Formative of the Function of the I as Revealed in Psychoanalytic                 Experience. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. 1285-90. Print.