Final answer:
Self-concept development begins early, with signs before birth as babies can recognize their mother's voice. Clear self-recognition manifests around 18 months, aligning with Erikson's toddlerhood stage where autonomy and self-awareness begin to solidify. Throughout childhood, self-concept is continuously refined through social interactions and self and peer evaluations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of self-concept is crucial for understanding human psychological development. While infants do not have a developed self-concept, the foundations for this important psychosocial attribute start to form at a very early age, even possibly before birth. According to research, self-concept begins to visibly manifest around 18 months, as evidenced by the mirror test where toddlers recognize themselves. However, there is evidence suggesting that self-awareness begins developing prior to this age. For instance, starting before birth, babies can recognize their mother's voice, indicating early forms of self-awareness and differentiation.
By about 2-4 years of age, children start to display social behavior that reflects their burgeoning self-concept, such as playing with other children and beginning to understand gender roles. By the time children are 4 years old, they exhibit greater autonomy and can better share and cooperate with peers. This development continues as they compare themselves with others throughout toddlerhood and into the school-age years, which significantly shapes their self-concept.
Research suggests that while rudimentary forms of self-recognition like object permanence and language discrimination start emerging as early as 5-8 months, clearer evidence of self-recognition, like identifying themselves in pictures or touching their painted noses in a mirror, occurs at about 18-24 months. This development aligns with Erikson's stages, where the toddlerhood stage is pivotal for establishing autonomy and later stages involve continuous refinement of self-concept through comparisons and social interactions.