Charles Horton Cooley, Life and Quotes

A collection of quotes by Charles Horton Cooley, Life and .

Charles Horton Cooley was an American sociologist born on August 17, 1864, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is best known for his contributions to the development of symbolic interactionism, a major perspective in sociology.

Cooley grew up in a highly intellectual family, as his father was a renowned professor of botany at the University of Michigan. Following in his father's footsteps, Cooley pursued his education at the same institution, earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1887. However, he soon discovered his passion for sociology and shifted his focus.

Cooley went on to earn his Ph.D. in economics and sociology from the University of Michigan in 1894. Throughout his career, he held various academic positions, including professorships at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. He also served as the president of the American Sociological Association in 1918.

Cooley's most influential work came in the form of his book "Human Nature and the Social Order," published in 1902. In this work, he introduced the concept of the "looking-glass self," which suggests that individuals develop their sense of self based on how they perceive others' impressions of them. This concept became a foundational idea within symbolic interactionism.

Despite his significant contributions to the field of sociology, Cooley remains relatively less well-known compared to his contemporaries. He passed away on May 7, 1929, leaving behind a rich intellectual legacy that has continued to shape sociological theory to this day.