Final answer:
Self-image is a complex construct consisting of our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, shaped by our perception of how others view us, our believed control over outcomes, and social expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-image consists of many ideas and aspects that develop over time through our interactions and internalizations of how we believe others perceive us. The concept is deeply rooted in theories from sociologists like Charles Cooley, who introduced the idea of the 'looking-glass self,' where our sense of self is shaped by our perceptions of how others view us. Similarly, George Herbert Mead's work on the self through social interactions and the formation of the 'generalized other' contributes to our understanding of self-image. Additionally, Carl Rogers, a humanistic psychologist, highlighted the importance of self-concept, which includes a set of beliefs about oneself, affecting one's perception of the self as being either in congruence or incongruent with the ideal self. Through these psychological and sociological lenses, we can see self-image as encompassing our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, the belief in our control over outcomes, and how we reckon with social expectations.