What is mirror theory in psychology

The mirror theory in psychology postulates that when we interact with others, we serve each other as mirrors of aspects that belong to ourselves. In other words, much of what we perceive in our friends, family, or anyone else we interact with relate, reflects specific aspects of ourselves that, for the most part, remain silenced in our unconscious.

Becoming aware of them and working on the different aspects found will help us grow and develop in a healthier and more positive way. In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about what is mirror theory in psychology, what are its four laws and how to apply this theory in our lives as a tool for improvement and personal growth.

Index

1. What is the mirror theory?
2. What does the mirror theory tell us?
3. How to apply the law of the mirror in my life

The mirror theory explains that many of the aspects that we observe in others are projections of our personality

So what does the mirror theory tell us? It refers both to unrecognized negative aspects of our own that are interfering in our lives, as well as other positive personal aspects that, by not being aware of them, we are preventing their growth.

With this, the theory of the mirror in psychology tries to show us that, rather than judging others by the defects that we see or yearn for those other aspects that call our attention to other people, we must carry out a process of introspection. We must become aware of how all the elements that we see in others constitute, in reality, a mirror of the light and shadow that dwells within us.

In the theory of the social mirror, four laws are exposed that explain the functioning of the behavior of others as a mirror of our own personality. We see them below:

1. Any aspect of others that bothers you is actually an element of your own personality that bothers you, but of which you are not aware.
2. Any aspect that others may criticize or judge about you supposes some personal aspect of you that you yourself dislike. Discover how to accept criticism.
3. At other times, the things that other people criticize about you can be factors in the own personality of the person who judges you and who, unconsciously, is projecting onto you.
4. Anything that you like about other people may actually be an aspect that belongs to you, but that you are not yet aware of. In this article about emotional awareness: what it is, characteristics, examples and activities can help you in your introspection process.

The law of the mirror in psychology can be applied in many ways, as it supposes a tool to polish the aspects of the personality of each one that interfere with personal, social, family development, etc. The main purpose is to enhance those aspects that reflect the inner potential and whose development favors our personal growth and benefits our neighbors.

Do you want to know how to apply the mirror theory in your life? Here are some recommendations on how to do it:

• do self-reflection: when something bothers you, analyze if this aspect reflects something internal of your own. For example, if you are bothered by someone who is very aggressive verbally, or who looks at you badly, or speaks in monologues, etc. If any of these aspects irritate you, you should analyze to what extent you act that way in certain situations or with certain people. Over time, this analysis will allow you to learn from those experiences. In this article, we show you how to promote personal and emotional self-care.
• become aware: after the analysis, you must become aware of your actions. For example, it is not that the arrogance of the other bothers you, but, in reality, it is an aspect of your personality that deep down you dislike.
• Identify what I want to change: Discuss how the things you don't like about yourself harm your well-being and relationships with your fellow human beings. This will allow you to gain the necessary strength to eliminate said behavior.

After carrying out the personal analysis, if you conclude that there are aspects that do not belong to you, you should let go of criticism from others, understanding that it is a projection of him on you. On the other hand, if you feel admiration for certain aspects of people around you, it is advisable to analyze whether you can also enhance that quality. If so, according to the mirror theory, you should work to develop it.

The benefits of adopting the look suggested by the mirror theory in psychology are innumerable to eradicate the negative aspects that interfere with your personal and social development. Precisely, it is important to promote those aspects that allow us to offer positive things to the world.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is mirror theory in psychology, we recommend that you enter our category of Personal growth and self-help.

• Garcia, E. (2008). Neuropsychology and education. From mirror neurons to theory of mind. Journal of Psychology and Education, 1(3), 69-90.