Black and White Child Self-Esteem in Social Science: An Overview

Abstract

outgrowth of concern of social scientists with how peoples' beliefs, aspirations, and behaviors are molded and affected by participation in a complex society. They are, in a sense, studies of how one's membership group, reference group, and significant others influence one's performance and self-evaluation. The roots of these studies are in very foundation of socio-psychological thought. The idea that people in society hold some common frame of reference through beliefs and values obtained through interaction is not new. Emile Durkheim, in 1893, addressed this point in stating that, the total beliefs and sentiments common to average citizens of same society form a determinate system which has its own life; one may call it collective or common conscience.' Charles Cooley (1912) contended that individuals cannot experience selffeeling without purposeful interaction.2 He posited, in what he called reflected or looking-glass self, that people are variously affected by their impressions of others' impressions of them. George Mead (1934) alluded to same general idea in saying, organized community of social group which gives to individual his unity of self may be called 'the generalized other.' The attitude of generalized other is attitude of whole community.3 These authors thus suggested general form through which societies from simplest to most complex enter as a determining factor into individual's self-concept, and exercise control over conduct.