Reflected appraisal is a term used in psychology to describe a person’s perception of how others see and evaluate him or her. The reflected appraisal process concludes that people come to think of themselves in the way they believe others think of them. This process has been deemed important to the development of a person’s self-esteem, especially because it includes interaction with people outside oneself.

Charles H. Cooley was the first to describe the process of reflected appraisal when he discussed his concept of the “looking-glass self.” He gave three steps by which people determine personal feelings of self-esteem. First, people imagine how others see them. Then, they imagine how others evaluate them. After such deliberation, people then feel good or bad about themselves based on their observation.

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