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What does the looking-glass self concept refer to?

  1. Your perspective on societal norms

  2. Your self-image based on others' perceptions

  3. Your subjective feelings about yourself

  4. Your understanding of personal identity

The correct answer is: Your self-image based on others' perceptions

The looking-glass self concept refers to the idea that an individual's self-image and self-esteem are shaped significantly by how they believe others perceive them. Coined by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley, this concept highlights a social process where people react to the opinions and judgments of others in their social environment. It involves three key components: imagining how you appear to others, imagining their judgment of that appearance, and developing feelings about yourself based on those perceptions. Therefore, self-image is not solely about an internal or individual perspective but is influenced by the reflections of others' views, making this answer the most accurate representation of the looking-glass self concept. This also distinguishes it from the other options, which focus more broadly on societal norms, subjective feelings, or personal identity without capturing the essence of how social interactions shape one's self-view.