Looking Glass Theory
Meet John John is a 20 year old college student He attends a 4 year university John is the only child of his overprotective mother and overworking father. Does well in school, but has too high of expectations placed on him by his family and himself. John spends all of his time studying and trying to make up for not going to a top school. John has very few friends because he makes no effort in any relationship, always focused on school and work. Doesn’t like to share emotions with others, feels it’s better to just internalize them.
The Looking Glass Theory Definition: We see ourselves through the eyes of other people, even to the extent of incorporating their views of us into our own self-concept
The Looking Glass Theory The term refers to people shaping themselves based on other people's perception, which leads the people to reinforce other people's perspectives on themselves. People shape themselves based on what other people perceive and confirm other people's opinion on themselves. In the looking-glass self a person views himself or herself through others' perceptions in society and in turn gains identity. Identity, or self, is the result of the concept in which we learn to see ourselves as others do (Yeung & Martin 2003).self
The Looking Glass self The thing that moves us to pride or shame is not the mere mechanical reflection of ourselves, but an imputed sentiment, the imagined effect of this reflection upon another's mind.
Stigma Theory
Theory of Social Stigma Stigma is an attribute, behavior, or reputation which is socially discrediting in a particular way: it causes an individual to be mentally classified by others in an undesirable, rejected stereotype rather than in an accepted, normal one. Goffman defined stigma ‘The process by which the reaction of others spoils normal identity’
Cont… Goffman, defined stigma as a special kind of gap between virtual social identity and actual social identity Virtual Social Identity - assumed demands and character we impute to the individual. Actual Social Identity - The category and attributes that could in fact be proved to possess.
Goffman’s 3 Forms of Stigma The experience of a mental illness (or the imposition of such a diagnosis); a physical form of deformity or an undesired differentness; or an association with a particular race, religion, belief, etc. Mental illness (Scars), Physical Disabilities (Anorexia Nervosa) and Diseases (Herpes)
Impact of Shame and Deceit “Withholding information about one's feelings, thoughts and desires is subtly shaming; the others feels cut off and excluded, even when it is not clear what is being withheld.” (Scheff, 2000) Feelings of shame hides the real feelings!
Impact of Shame and Deceit “There are many words that can be used as substitutes for shame and embarrassment: feeling insecure, blank, anxious, ridiculous, foolish, silly, stupid, or absurd are some examples.”(Scheff,2000) He fears of being stigmatized as crazy, broken or a failure.
Impact of Shame and Deceit Goffman "One assumes that embarrassment is a normal part of normal social life, the individual becoming uneasy not because he is personally maladjusted but rather because he is not… embarrassment is not an irrational impulse breaking through social prescribed behavior, but part of this orderly behavior itself" (1967, p. 109 and 111).
George Herbert Mead
What Is It? People who are of sufficient importance in an individual's life to affect the individual's emotions, behavior, and sense of self. Focuses on the impact significant people have on the development of the self. Significance can be attached to people who have had a positive or negative impact on the life.
Examples in Straw Person Significant Others are his Family Members His Mother’s overprotective ways make him reflect inadequacies back onto himself. His Father always choosing work over the family causes him to feel unimportant. Father also inspired work before all else, causing him to over work and to be disappointed with his achievements.