The Looking-Glass Self
Charles Horton Cooley theorized how individuals develop a sense of self. The concept of the looking-glass self is very important to that theory. The looking-glass self is the interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others. Other people reflect back the image through their reactions to our behavior. Cooley said that the looking-glass self is a three-step process starting with how we imagine we appear to others. Next, we try to figure out whether others view us as we view ourselves through their reactions. Last, we use those perceptions to develop feelings about ourselves.
A new born child has no sense of person or place and as people start to interact with the child, that child develops a sense of self. This theory puts a lot of responsibility on parents and other primary-group members who have contact with the child.
For example, if a child's parents are constantly telling him or her that he or she needs to improve or or be better, that child will begin to think that he or she is not good enough.
A new born child has no sense of person or place and as people start to interact with the child, that child develops a sense of self. This theory puts a lot of responsibility on parents and other primary-group members who have contact with the child.
For example, if a child's parents are constantly telling him or her that he or she needs to improve or or be better, that child will begin to think that he or she is not good enough.