self-reference

self- +‎ reference

self-reference (usually uncountable, plural self-references)

1. An act or process of referring to itself or oneself.

   Synonym: autoreference

   • 1985, John H. Crook, The evolution of human consciousness, Oxford University Press:

     Ethologists concerned with the evolution of human behaviour have stopped short of attempting to explain the further reaches of the human mind; consciousness, self-reference, the construction of identity, and intersubjective relating.

• self-referential

self-reference (third-person singular simple present self-references, present participle self-referencing, simple past and past participle self-referenced)

1. (transitive, uncommon) To reference itself or oneself.

• “self-reference”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.