Charles Cooley

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that Charles Cooley left two important legacies in the field of social psychology. The paper looks at his concept of the looking-glass self and his study on primary groups. The paper shows how Cooley significantly influenced the discipline of social psychology in his time. The paper discusses the testing of Cooley's thesis concerning the creation and development of human identity and the concept of self.

Outline:
Lasting Value of Cooley's Works
Influence of Cooley's work on his discipline
Testing one or two key propositions of Cooley

From the Paper:

"Putting into context these two legacies of Charles Cooley, it can be said that his research on human identity (specifically self-concept) and complex social organizations are reflective of the modern society that Cooley found himself in. As human society progressed towards the 20th century, Cooley and similar social researchers like him felt the need to redefine human society as they perceived it to be. Hence, his studies on the looking-glass self and primary groups are his contributions to this general inquiry into the emerging modern human society in the 20th century."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cooley, C. Human nature and the social order. NY: Scribner's.
• ________. Social organization: a study of the larger mind. NY: Scribner's.
• Woodward, K. (2002). Understanding identity. NY: Edward Arnold Ltd.

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