The looking-glass self suggests self-esteem is formed primarily through:

The looking-glass self suggests self-esteem is formed primarily through:

• A. Perceived reactions of others
• B. Internal introspection alone
• C. Genetic factors
• D. Economic success

Answer: (A)

The looking-glass self centers on how our sense of self and self-esteem develop through how we think others see us. It describes a process where we imagine others’ judgments about us, interpret their reactions, and then feel pride or shame based on that perceived feedback. So the reactions of other people act like a mirror, shaping how valuable we feel about ourselves. That’s why the best answer is perceived reactions of others. Internal introspection matters for self-understanding, but in this view, it’s the social feedback—how we think we’re viewed by others—that primarily builds self-esteem. Genetic factors and economic success can influence mood or status in other ways, but they’re not the mechanism through which the looking-glass self explains self-esteem. For example, a student who receives encouragement and praise from peers and teachers tends to internalize a positive reflection, boosting self-esteem, while negative or dismissive reactions can lead to lower self-worth.

The looking-glass self centers on how our sense of self and self-esteem develop through how we think others see us. It describes a process where we imagine others’ judgments about us, interpret their reactions, and then feel pride or shame based on that perceived feedback. So the reactions of other people act like a mirror, shaping how valuable we feel about ourselves.

That’s why the best answer is perceived reactions of others. Internal introspection matters for self-understanding, but in this view, it’s the social feedback—how we think we’re viewed by others—that primarily builds self-esteem. Genetic factors and economic success can influence mood or status in other ways, but they’re not the mechanism through which the looking-glass self explains self-esteem. For example, a student who receives encouragement and praise from peers and teachers tends to internalize a positive reflection, boosting self-esteem, while negative or dismissive reactions can lead to lower self-worth.