Question

Explain the theory of looking-glass self.
(one paragraph)

Answer 1

The looking-glass self describes the process wherein individuals base their sense of self on how they believe others view them. Using social interaction as a type of “mirror,” people use the judgments they receive from others to measure their own worth, values, and behavior.

Answer 2

The theory of the looking-glass self, proposed by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley, suggests that our self-concept and self-esteem are shaped by the feedback we receive from others. According to this theory, we imagine how we appear to others, we imagine the judgment of that appearance, and we develop our self through the judgments of others. In other words, we imagine how others see us, and this shapes our perception of ourselves. This process is ongoing, and we continually adjust our self-concept and self-esteem based on the feedback we receive from others. Thus, our social interactions play a significant role in shaping who we are and how we see ourselves.