Ontario Early Childhood Educator Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The theory that suggests a person's self-concept is shaped by perceptions of how others view them is the Looking Glass Self. This concept, developed by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley, posits that individuals form their self-identity based on how they believe others perceive them. The process involves three main components: imagining how we appear to others, imagining their judgment of that appearance, and developing feelings about ourselves based on those judgments. This indicates that interpersonal interactions play a crucial role in the development of self-perception and self-esteem.

In contrast, social identity theory focuses on how group membership influences self-concept through social categorization and comparison. Self-determination theory emphasizes motivation fueled by intrinsic and extrinsic factors rather than social perception. Critical theory examines societal structures and challenges power dynamics but does not specifically address the formation of self-concept through perceived others' views. Each of these theories contributes valuable insights into aspects of identity and self-perception but does not encapsulate the specific process described in the Looking Glass Self.