What does the "looking-glass self" concept explain about self-image?

The concept of the "looking-glass self," introduced by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley, emphasizes that an individual's self-image is significantly influenced by how they believe others perceive them. This process involves three main steps: imagining how we appear to others, imagining how they evaluate us based on that appearance, and developing feelings about ourselves based on those evaluations.

This framework suggests that self-image is not an isolated experience but is instead relational and socially constructed. Individuals are often reflective of the judgments and perceptions they perceive from those around them—friends, peers, society at large—which contributes to their self-concept. In essence, the looking-glass self underscores the social nature of self-identity and its development over time, often leading to changes based on shifting social contexts and relationships.