THE CYBERNETIC SELF IN THE DIGITAL AGE: COOLEY’S “LOOKING-GLASS SELF” AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING SPATIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR IN ONLINE NETWORKS

Abstract

To analyze spatial and organizational behavior in online networks, this article revisits the integrated sociological and geographical thought of Charles Horton Cooley, arguing that his work provides a powerful Geo-Psycho-Organizational lens for understanding contemporary networked life. We synthesize Cooley’s foundational texts (1894, 1902, and 1909) to propose the Cybernetic Looking-Glass Self (CLGS) framework, which interprets the self-concept as a dynamic, cybernetic feedback loop operating within a defined spatial and organizational network. Specifically, we analyze how the “friction” and “flow” of digital communication networks, concepts originally developed for physical infrastructure, impact the stability and formation of the self-concept and organizational structure. The article outlines a novel methodology, including a proposed Digital Looking-Glass Self Scale and a Structural Equation Model, to operationalize Cooley’s concepts for psychogeographical research. Cooley’s integrated perspective is essential for developing robust methodologies capable of capturing the complex interplay between infrastructure, organization, and individual perception in the digital age.