Beyond the justification hypothesis: a broader theory of the evolution of self-consciousness

J Clin Psychol. 2004 Dec;60(12):1271-3. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20072.

Abstract

We evaluate Henriques' Justification Hypothesis (JH; this issue) and argue that his explanation for the evolution of self-consciousness is overly narrow and the evolutionary sequence of events is backwards. Instead, we propose a broader theory of the evolution of self-consciousness, with four categories of adaptive functions: (a) self-regulation, (b) selective information processing, (c) understanding others, and (d) identity formation.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Animals
  • Attention
  • Awareness*
  • Behavior*
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Ego*
  • Empiricism*
  • Humans
  • Identification, Psychological
  • Internal-External Control
  • Mental Processes
  • Personal Construct Theory
  • Psychological Theory
  • Psychology / classification
  • Psychology / trends*
  • Specialization / trends*