Question

Which of the following statements is NOT correct in regard to Charles Horton Cooley's conception of the looking glass self? a. We see ourselves reflected in others' reactions to our appearance and behaviors.

b. The imagining or interpreting of others' reactions is critical to self-awareness.
c. Our interpretations of other people's reactions have no influence on our sense of self.
d. We acquire a sense of self by being sensitive to the appraisals of us that we perceive others to have.

Answer 1

The statement that is NOT correct regarding Charles Horton Cooley's conception of the looking glass self is Our interpretations of other people's reactions have no influence on our sense of self. Thus, the correct answer is c. Our interpretations of other people's reactions have no influence on our sense of self.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charles Horton Cooley's theory of the looking glass self underscores how our self-concept is developed through our interactions with others. The concept involves three key components: how we imagine others perceive us, how we interpret these perceptions, and how these interpretations influence our self-concept.

Cooley emphasized that our sense of self is heavily influenced by the way we think others view us. In this framework, statement c, suggesting that our interpretations of others' reactions have no influence on our sense of self, contradicts Cooley's theory. Instead, Cooley argued that our interpretations of others' reactions significantly shape our self-perception.

According to Cooley, our self-concept forms through a continual process of imagining how others perceive us and interpreting their reactions. This process is crucial in developing self-awareness and constructing our identity. Hence, the inaccurate statement c undermines Cooley's core idea that our perceptions of others' reactions profoundly impact our sense of self.

Thus, the correct answer is c. Our interpretations of other people's reactions have no influence on our sense of self.