Читать книгу The Interpersonal Communication Playbook - Teri Kwal Gamble - Страница 78

More than a century ago, psychologist William James put it this way: “A man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him and carry an image of him in their mind.”¹² In similar fashion, in his reflected appraisal theory, psychologist Charles Cooley described the mirror-like image we derive from our contacts with others and then project into our future experiences. In other words, we build a self-concept that reflects how we think others see us.¹³ According to Cooley, the self we present is in large part based on the way others categorize us, the roles they expect us to play, and the behaviors or traits they expect us to exhibit. Cooley believed that by reflecting back to us who we are and how we come across, other people function as our mirrors. In fact, he coined the term “looking glass self” to represent the self that comes to us from others. For example, if others see you as a capable and outgoing leader, you may reflect their appraisals by viewing yourself in those ways. Of course, the roles we play and how we play them affect both how and with whom we communicate. They all influence the content, objectives, and frequency of our communication contacts.¹⁴

Try This: Feelings About Age and Physical Ability

Feelings about aging may affect notions of self-worth. Society sends powerful messages about the capability and worth of people depending on their ages and physical abilities.