Self-recognition and stimulus preference in autistic children.

A common notion regarding autistic children is that they do not show self-recognition. In this study, 7 autistic children were compared to a group of normal infants at the age of self-recognition. Using a videotape "mirror image" and an objective self-recognition criterion, we observed that 6 of the 7 autistic children exhibited self-recognition. In a 2-choice preference situation, autistic children tended to prefer the more predictable mirror image to a previously taped film of self.