Self-awareness in animals is usually tested using the mirror test, where an animal is marked with a visible dot or sticker on a body part they can only see via a mirror. If the animal tries to investigate or remove the mark, it suggests some level of self-recognition.
🪞 So... are Japanese macaques self-aware?
❌ No strong evidence (yet)
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Japanese macaques generally fail the mirror test.
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They often treat their reflection as another monkey — showing aggression or social behavior rather than recognizing themselves.
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That said, some individuals have shown ambiguous behavior, like using mirrors to look at body parts — but these are inconclusive and rare.
BUT — it's complicated.
Scientists are rethinking the mirror test as the only measure of self-awareness. For example:
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Some animals may understand the reflection but not care about a mark.
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Others may be self-aware in different ways — like having theory of mind, deceptive behavior, or long-term planning.
Japanese macaques do show:
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Empathy-like behaviors (like grooming injured members)
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Deception (e.g., hiding food from higher-ranking monkeys)
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Memory of social hierarchies and allies
These suggest a kind of practical or social self-awareness, even if they don’t pass the mirror test.
Summary:
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🧠 Mirror test: No
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🔍 Social awareness: High
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🤔 Practical intelligence: Strong
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🤯 Philosophical self-awareness: Unlikely, but we can't rule out more subtle forms
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