Desire and the Looking-Glass Self

The concept of looking-glass self is one of the best-known theories that explains self-concept and identity development. It is often used by social and behavioral scientists and researchers to highlight the crucial role of how one's self-image is perceived by others. In his well-known theory, Charles Horton Cooley outlines the three principles of the looking-glass self and explains the stages of identity development. The theory also highlights how one creates a sense of self through social interaction. This entry provides an overview of the theory, a discussion of the connection between Cooley's work on the looking-glass self and Erving Goffman's arguments on presentation of self in everyday life, and an illustration on how the theory of looking-glass self can be applied to postcolonial experiences.

As Wayne E. Hensley explains, the basic idea of the looking-glass self is drawn from the couplet quoted by Cooley:

Leigh S. Shaffer articulates that in English, the term looking-glass self refers to a mirror. Shaffer argues that Cooley used the familiar figure of a person looking at his or her reflection in the mirror as a metaphor for understanding the development of the social self. Similarly, Donald C. Reitzes believes the term is often incorrectly used. Therefore, he suggests that if it is not defined correctly, the looking-glass self might suggest that the self is a passive product formed by others and motivated by acceptance seeking. As Reitzes points out, the concept of the looking-glass self also indicates the active participation of the individual in [Page 203]forming one's self and emphasizes the motivating behavior and social interaction. Thus, the concept refers to the complex process of identity formation and also the relationship between the self and others as well as the potential reasons for the participation and motivation of the self and others in the process.