Charles Cooley- Looking glass self | Individuals and Society | MCAT | Khan Academy

Summary

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn the norms and behaviors of their culture through interactions with others. This includes family, friends, teachers, and even strangers. Sociologist Charles Cooley's 'looking glass self' theory explains that our self-image is shaped by how we think others perceive us, which may be correct or incorrect. For example, a student might misinterpret a teacher's harsh grading as a sign of low ability, affecting their self-esteem and effort. However, further interactions can help correct these perceptions, leading to a more accurate self-view.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Socialization is the process of learning attitudes, values, and behaviors appropriate to one's culture and community.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Socialization occurs through observation and interaction with people around us, including family, friends, teachers, and even strangers.
• 📺 Influencers like doctors, nurses, and celebrities also play a role in teaching us how to act within our community.
• 🪞 Sociologist Charles Cooley's 'looking glass self' theory explains how our self-image is shaped by our perceptions of how others see us.
• 👀 The first step in Cooley's theory is imagining how we appear to others.
• 💭 The second step is imagining how others evaluate us based on their observations.
• 😊 The third step is developing feelings about ourselves based on these imagined evaluations.
• ❌ Cooley believed we are influenced not by actual opinions of others, but by what we imagine their opinions to be.
• 📉 Incorrect perceptions, such as thinking a harshly graded paper means we lack intelligence, can negatively impact our self-image.
• 🔄 Future interactions, like discussing feedback with a teacher, can help revise incorrect perceptions and positively influence our self-image.

Q & A

What is socialization and how does it occur?

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn the attitudes, values, and behaviors that are considered appropriate and expected by their culture and community. It typically occurs through observation and interaction with the people around us, including family, friends, teachers, and even strangers we encounter in daily life.

Who can influence our socialization process?

Everyone we come across in our daily lives can influence our socialization, from close ones like family and friends to professionals like doctors and nurses, public figures like celebrities, and even people we stand next to in a supermarket line.

How does socialization affect our self-image?

Socialization shapes our self-image by influencing how we view ourselves within our community. This is often based on our perceptions of how we are perceived by others, which can be influenced by their imagined evaluations of us.

What is the 'looking glass self' concept introduced by Charles Cooley?

The 'looking glass self' is a concept introduced by sociologist Charles Cooley to describe how our self-image is formed not only by our contemplation of our personal qualities but also by our perceptions of how we are perceived by others.

What are the three steps in the 'looking glass self' process according to Cooley?

The three steps are: 1) Imagining how we appear to others, 2) Imagining how others evaluate us based on their observations, and 3) Developing feelings about ourselves based on our impressions of their evaluations.

How does Cooley's theory suggest that our self-identity is formed?

According to Cooley, our self-identity is formed based on what we imagine the opinions of others to be, which means it can be influenced by both correct and incorrect perceptions of how others see us.

Can you provide an example of how incorrect perceptions can affect a student's self-image?

An example is a student receiving a harshly graded paper from a teacher who intended to motivate them to reach their potential. The student might perceive the harsh grading as a sign of being unintelligent, leading to a negative self-image and potentially affecting their effort in class.

How can future interactions change the student's incorrect self-perception?

Future interactions, such as a conversation with the teacher explaining the intention behind the harsh grading, can help the student revise their incorrect perceptions and develop a different self-perspective.

What is the critical aspect of Cooley's theory regarding the influence of others' opinions on our self-image?

The critical aspect is that we are not actually influenced by the opinions of others themselves, but rather by what we imagine those opinions to be, which can lead to the formation of self-identity based on both accurate and inaccurate perceptions.

How can the socialization process impact our attitudes and behaviors?

The socialization process can shape our attitudes and behaviors by influencing our self-image and how we perceive ourselves in relation to the expectations of our culture and community.

What role do public figures and media play in the socialization process?

Public figures and media, such as celebrities seen on TV and in movies, play a role in socialization by providing models of behavior and attitudes that individuals may observe and emulate, thus influencing their social norms and values.