Topic > Looking Glass Self': How Social Interactions Shape Our Identities

The term "Looking Glass Self" was coined by Charles Horton Cooley in his essay on human nature and social order. He was an American sociologist who used this term to describe it as our reflection of how we think we appear to others. To explain further would be like imagining how others see them. An example would be that the mother would consider her child to be flawless, while another person would think differently. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Charles Horton Cooley considers three steps when using “the mirror self.” The first step is how we imagine ourselves appearing to others. The second step is how you imagine the judgment of others based on how you think they see you. The third step is how to think about how the person sees them based on their previous judgments. The mirror includes three main components that are unique to humans. Let's imagine how we must appear to others in a social situation. We imagine and react to what we believe their judgment of that appearance should be. We develop our sense of self and respond through these perceived judgments from others. The result is that individuals will change their behavior based on what they feel others think of them, even if not necessarily true. In this way, social interaction acts as a “mirror” or “mirror,” as one's sense of self and self-esteem are constructed from others. For example, an individual may walk into a job interview with confidence and attempt to display this confidence. A person in this situation very often examines the reactions of interviewers to see whether they are reacting positively or negatively. If the individual notices positive reactions, such as nodding or smiling, this may further develop the individual's sense of self-confidence. If the individual notices negative reactions, such as lack of interest, this self-confidence is often shaken and reformed to improve oneself, even if the perceived judgments were not necessarily true. There is an example of how this term can work in everyday situations. As a child, I vividly remember feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment when my parents praised me for my accomplishments or good behavior. I also remember feeling ashamed or embarrassed when I received criticism or negative feedback. These experiences shaped my self-concept and influenced how I saw myself in relation to others. As I grew up, my experiences with the mirror self became more complex. I began to internalize the expectations and standards of my peers and social groups and felt pressure to conform to these norms. This often led to feelings of anxiety and insecurity, as I struggled to fit in and be accepted by others. For example, in high school, I was part of a popular group of friends who focused on social status and appearance. I felt pressure to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and conform to their standards in order to be accepted. This led to a cycle of comparisons and self-doubt, as I constantly evaluated myself based on the reactions and opinions of my peers. As time went on, however, I began to recognize the limitations of the looking glass self. I realized that relying solely on external validation and approval could be detrimental to my self-esteem and sense of identity. I learned to prioritize my values ​​and beliefs and develop a more authentic sense of self that wasn't dependent on the opinions of others. The evidence.