A young child is repeatedly given negative messages about clumsiness and stupidity, and the parents even express regret that the child was born. Subsequently, this child develops a negative self-concept congruent with these parental messages. What sociological concept best captures this process?
A) the looking-glass self
B) primary socialization
C) family violence
D) secondary socialization

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The looking-glass self refers to the process by which individuals develop a self-concept based on the feedback they receive from their social environment, especially from significant others such as parents. In this case, the child has received negative messages and feedback from their parents, which has influenced their self-concept to become negative and congruent with the messages they received. The other options (B) primary socialization, (C) family violence, and (D) secondary socialization are not as directly related to this particular process of developing a negative self-concept based on parental messages.

A Young Child Is Repeatedly Given Negative Messages About Clumsiness