Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Do Chimps Recognize Themselves at All?
Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, meaning we share a lot in common. Self-recognition might be one of those things, because along with the other great apes, chimpanzee mirror recognition is a well-known phenomenon.
Chimpanzees not only recognize the chimp in the mirror as themselves, but they even take advantage of the mirror to inspect parts of themselves they don’t normally see, and groom themselves in front of the mirror. And yes, they have passed the mirror test.
What is the Mirror Test?
The mirror test was developed by Gordon Gallup Jr in 1970. Its purpose is to determine whether a non-human animal can recognize their own reflection. Researchers test this by placing a visual marker on the animal they would not be able to smell or feel and observing whether they show interest in it when faced with their reflection.
Showing interest could mean adjusting their position to get a better look at the mark, touching the mark on their body, or even trying to remove it. The fact they recognize the marker on themself, and not another animal, means they know the animal reflected in the mirror is them.
Chimpanzees were the first animals to take and pass the mirror test. Gordan Gallup’s mirror experiment showed that humans are not the only species capable of self-recognition. At first, the chimpanzees treated their reflection like it was a different chimp. However, with time they figured out what was really going on and started using the mirror to explore their bodies. To confirm those initial observations, Gallup created the mirror test, and the chimps passed with flying colors.
Other species that have passed the mirror test include elephants, bottlenose dolphins, orca whales, and other great apes – bonobos, orangutangs, gorillas, and humans. Interestingly, other primates like monkeys have not passed the mirror test, insinuating that self-recognition isn’t a primate thing, but may be evidence of self-awareness.
How Chimpanzees Use Mirrors
Chimpanzee mirror recognition can be a form of enrichment for these amazingly smart creatures. At Project Chimps, one way we help enrich the lives of our residents is with the looky-lou mirror. The chimpanzees use the mirror the same way we do, like grooming themselves to make sure they’re looking nice. Some chimps use the mirror to check out their teeth or make funny faces in the mirror by sticking out their tongues. They also like to whack it around, which is why the looky-lou mirror is chimp-proof!
Chimpanzees like to use mirrors to inspect parts of their bodies they normally can’t see. Like picking at scabs on their face or head, removing eye mucus, and looking at the inside of their mouths. Chimpanzees also love to make exaggerated facial expressions in front of mirrors. If you’ve ever done something strange in front of mirror, you can probably relate to our chimpanzee relatives.
Are Chimpanzees Self Aware?
Chimpanzee mirror recognition shows that they possess the cognitive capabilities to recognize their reflection, but does this mean they possess self-awareness? Gallup thought passing the mirror test meant having a profound level of consciousness, or the ability to contemplate one’s own thoughts and experiences in relation to the self. This is called “theory of mind”, something human children around the age of two demonstrate, which is roughly the same time they recognize themselves in mirrors.
Gallup believed that great apes evolved a sense of self to deal with complex social situations. But his mentee Daniel Povinelli challenged him on this. Povinelli argued that a chimpanzee doesn’t need to have a sense of self to pass the mirror test. All the chimp needs to do is recognize the way the chimp is moving in the mirror is the same as their own movement. This led Povinelli to speculate that the great apes have a high level of physical self-awareness to help navigate the branches and trees. He also argued that even though mirror recognition and “theory of mind” develop at the same time in human children, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re related.
Whether or not chimpanzee mirror recognition indicates a sense of self, one cannot deny that chimpanzees are incredibly intelligent, as are all the animals that have passed the mirror test. It’s hard to say whether they have “theory of mind”, because that’s in the realm of philosophy, and beyond this blog. It is fun to wonder, though, isn’t it?
A Reflection of what Matters
It may be debated whether chimpanzees have true self-awareness, but that doesn’t stop chimpanzees from having fun in front of a mirror. The former research chimpanzees at Project Chimps can enjoy enrichment like the looky-lou mirror because of the generous donations people have given the sanctuary. If you want to help support these fascinating chimpanzees, consider making a donation, so that the chimps can continue to have fun. And maybe, if mirror recognition really does signify self awareness, appreciate their own sense of self.
