What concept describes how individuals perceive themselves through the eyes of others?

The concept that captures how individuals perceive themselves through the eyes of others is known as the looking glass self. This sociological notion, developed by Charles Horton Cooley, emphasizes that our self-image is largely shaped by how we believe others view us. It involves three main components: imagining how we appear to others, imagining the judgment those others place on us based on that appearance, and developing a sense of self based on those perceived evaluations.

This process highlights the social nature of self-perception, suggesting that our identities are not merely formed by internal self-reflection but are significantly influenced by social interactions. The looking glass self illustrates the dynamic relationship between self and society, as our understanding of ourselves is continuously constructed and re-constructed in response to social feedback.

Other concepts mentioned, such as the ego and superego, relate more to Freudian psychology rather than sociological perceptions of self, while a total institution refers to places where individuals are cut off from wider society and lead an enclosed, formally administered life, which does not focus on self-perception in a social context.