Which of the following statements accurately describes the concept of the looking-glass self in social psychology?

• A. It suggests that self-concept is determined solely by personal introspection, independent of social interactions.
• B. It refers to the idea that individuals form their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them.
• C. It proposes that self-concept is fixed and does not change in response to feedback from others.
• D. It claims that self-concept is shaped only by genetic factors and not by social experiences.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of the looking-glass self, which is a theory in social psychology introduced by Charles Horton Cooley.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the looking-glass self explains how individuals develop their self-concept through social interactions and the perceptions of others.
3. Step 3: Note that the theory emphasizes that people imagine how they appear to others, interpret others' judgments, and develop feelings about themselves based on these perceptions.
4. Step 4: Compare the given statements to the core idea of the looking-glass self, focusing on whether they highlight the role of others' perceived evaluations in shaping self-concept.
5. Step 5: Identify the statement that correctly reflects this process: that individuals form their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them.