The Looking-Glass Self (Charles Horton Cooley)

The Looking-Glass Self, by Charles Horton Cooley, is a concept that explains how our sense of self develops through social interactions. It suggests that we see ourselves partly through how others perceive us. We imagine how we appear to others, interpret their reactions, and then incorporate those perceptions into our self-image. For example, if someone views us as friendly and kind, we begin to see ourselves in that way. This ongoing process helps shape our identity based on the feedback and reactions from those around us.