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[–]MarkTwainiac 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Identity forms in roughly the same way as sexual orientation does but for identity instead of attraction. Certain physical features cause an infant to in some way mentally bond and begin to form a individualized group identity with the organisms who posses the same features.

So if identity is formed during infancy and comes from bonding with others who possess the same features as us, then how come we don't all fundamentally "identify as" babies?

Or maybe we do - and that's why "baby" is such a common form of endearment? This brings back memories of the 80s when everyone talked about their "inner child" LOL.

Thanks for the explanation. It's really cleared things up for me.

[–]HeimdeklediROAR 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It's not based on an infant's awareness of it's own appearance, but rather an instinctual preference to absorb certain information into their self-concept based on perceived sex traits groups in their environment