George Herbert Mead’s view of the self

George Herbert Mead was a sociologist and social psychologist who developed a theory of the self that is based on the idea of social interaction. Mead believed that the self is not a fixed entity, but rather a process that is constantly evolving through our interactions with others.

Mead’s theory of the self has two key concepts: the “I” and the “me.” The “I” is the impulsive, spontaneous, and creative part of the self. It is the part of us that is not fully formed and that is constantly seeking new experiences. The “me” is the social self. It is the part of us that is made up of the roles we play and the expectations of others.

Mead believed that the self develops through a process of role-taking. Role-taking is the ability to take the perspective of another person and see ourselves as they see us. Mead argued that we learn to take the role of others through our interactions with them. As we interact with others, we begin to see ourselves through their eyes and we start to develop a sense of who we are.

Mead identified three stages in the development of the self:

• The play stage is the first stage of self-development. In the play stage, children learn to take the role of specific others. For example, a child might play the role of a doctor, a teacher, or a parent.
• The game stage is the second stage of self-development. In the game stage, children learn to take the role of the generalized other. The generalized other is the set of expectations that society has for us in a particular role. For example, the generalized other for a doctor would include the expectations that doctors should be kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable.
• The maturity stage is the third stage of self-development. In the maturity stage, we have a fully developed self that is able to take the role of others in a variety of situations. We are able to see ourselves from the perspective of others and we are able to use this knowledge to guide our behavior.

Mead’s theory of the self has been influential in sociology and social psychology. It has helped us to understand how the self develops and how it influences our behavior. Mead’s theory has also been used to explain a variety of social phenomena, such as social roles, group dynamics, and social change.

Here are some additional key concepts of the self in Mead’s theory:

• Symbolic interactionism: This is the theory that social interaction is based on the use of symbols. Symbols are words, gestures, and other signs that have meaning for us. Mead believed that symbolic interaction is essential for the development of the self.
• The looking-glass self: This is the idea that our self-concept is formed through our interactions with others. We see ourselves as others see us, and this image of ourselves becomes our self-concept.
• The significant other: This is a person who is important to us and who has a significant influence on our self-concept. Significant others can be parents, teachers, friends, or other people who we admire.
• The generalized other: This is the set of expectations that society has for us in a particular role. The generalized other is what guides our behavior in social situations.

Mead’s theory of the self is a complex and sophisticated theory that has had a significant impact on sociology and social psychology. It is a theory that continues to be studied and debated today.