Examples of Mead's I and Me: Dr. Maples Five Minute Sociology #13

Summary

In this episode of Five Minute Sociology, Dr. Maples explores George Herbert Mead's concepts of 'I' and 'Me', illustrating how individuals are shaped by societal expectations. The 'I' represents our unfiltered self, while the 'Me' is the socialized self that conforms to societal norms. Dr. Maples explains how the interaction between these two aspects, influenced by the 'generalized other', forms our self-identity. Using relatable examples, he demonstrates the decision-making process and its impact on personal growth, emphasizing the enduring relevance of Mead's ideas across disciplines.

Takeaways

• 📚 George Herbert Mead's concept of 'I' and 'Me' explores the construction of the self and how individuals are shaped by their environment.
• 🕵️‍♂️ 'I' represents the unfiltered, individualistic aspect of the self, while 'Me' is the socialized, curated version influenced by societal expectations.
• 🔄 The interaction between 'I' and 'Me' is a dynamic process that helps in understanding one's identity.
• 👥 The 'Generalized Other' is a sociological concept that encapsulates societal expectations and influences decision-making.
• 💭 Mead suggests that decisions are made based on what the 'Generalized Other' expects of an individual.
• 🎓 In the context of a student facing legal trouble, the 'I' must decide how to react, which affects the 'Me' and subsequent situations.
• 🎓 The choice of a college major is influenced by the 'Generalized Other' but ultimately decided by the 'I', affecting the 'Me'.
• 🔄 The decision-making process involving 'I' and 'Me' is cyclical, with new decisions creating new versions of the 'Me'.
• 🌐 Mead's ideas on 'I' and 'Me' are foundational in sociology and have applications in psychology and philosophy.
• 📈 These concepts remain relevant today in understanding the individual's relationship with society and its expectations.

Q & A

Who is George Herbert Mead and what is his main focus?

George Herbert Mead was a sociologist and philosopher who was fascinated with the construction of the self and how the individual was shaped by the situations happening around them.

What are the two extreme poles of the self according to Mead?

Mead saw the self as having two extreme poles: the 'I', which is the unfiltered version of the self, and the 'Me', which is the socialized version of the self.

What does the 'I' represent in Mead's theory?

The 'I' represents the unfiltered, spontaneous, and emotional aspects of the self that may not be expected to be found in the 'Me'.

What does the 'Me' represent in Mead's theory?

The 'Me' represents the social self, the curated and filtered version of the self that aligns with societal expectations.

What is the role of the 'I' in decision-making according to the script?

The 'I' makes decisions based on the situations that the 'Me' is facing, which in turn shapes how we understand who we are.

What is the 'generalized other' in Mead's theory?

The 'generalized other' encapsulates all the expectations placed on us by society, other people, and even ourselves.

How does the 'generalized other' influence the 'Me'?

The 'Me' is put into situations based on what the generalized other expects of it, influencing how the 'I' makes decisions.

What is the sentence that helps remember the sequence of Mead's ideas?

The sentence is 'I make decisions based on what generalized others expect of me.'

Can you provide an example from the script where the 'I' makes a decision based on the situation of the 'Me'?

Yes, one example is a student who has to go to court for breaking the law. The 'Me' understands societal expectations, but the 'I' decides how to react, which could lead to different outcomes such as going to jail or being let off the charges.

How does the concept of choosing a major illustrate the 'I' and 'Me' in action?

The 'Me' considers the generalized other's expectations, like parental wishes or job market needs, but the 'I' makes the final decision, possibly choosing a major based on personal interest rather than social expectations.

Why are Mead's ideas on the 'I' and 'Me' still important today?

These ideas are still important because they help us understand the relationship between the individual and societal expectations, which is a cornerstone of sociological study.

In what disciplines do Mead's ideas on the 'I' and 'Me' appear?

Mead's ideas appear in multiple disciplines including psychology, philosophy, and sociology.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to George Herbert Mead's 'I' and 'Me'

Dr. Maples introduces the concepts of 'I' and 'Me' as developed by sociologist George Herbert Mead. Mead was intrigued by how an individual's self is constructed and influenced by their environment. He formalized these ideas in 1913, viewing 'I' as the unfiltered, spontaneous self, and 'Me' as the socialized, filtered self. The conflict and interaction between these two aspects shape our self-understanding. Mead also introduced the concept of the 'generalized other,' which represents societal expectations that influence our decisions. Dr. Maples provides a mnemonic sentence to remember the sequence: 'I make decisions based on what generalized others expect of me.'

Keywords

💡George Herbert Mead

George Herbert Mead was an American sociologist and philosopher who focused on social behaviorism. In the video, Mead's theories about the self are central, specifically his concepts of 'I' and 'Me'. These ideas are foundational to understanding how individuals are shaped by their social environment.

💡Self

The 'self' refers to an individual's sense of identity. Mead's theory posits that the self is constructed through social interactions. The video discusses how the self is shaped by the interplay between the 'I' and the 'Me'.

💡I

The 'I' represents the unfiltered, spontaneous, and individualistic aspect of the self. It is the aspect that reacts to situations and makes decisions without the influence of societal norms. In the video, it's described as the raw version of the self that may show a range of emotions.

💡Me

The 'Me' is the socialized aspect of the self. It is how an individual presents themselves to society, influenced by societal expectations and norms. The video uses the 'Me' to explain how individuals behave in a way that aligns with what is expected of them.

💡Generalized Other

The 'Generalized Other' is a sociological concept that represents the attitudes, expectations, and behaviors of society as a whole. It influences how individuals make decisions and behave. The video explains how the 'I' makes decisions based on what the 'Generalized Other' expects.

💡Decision-making

Decision-making is a process where individuals evaluate information and choose a course of action. In the context of Mead's theory, it's the 'I' that makes decisions based on the situations the 'Me' is in. The video uses examples such as a student going to court to illustrate this process.

💡Sociology

Sociology is the study of society and social behavior. Mead's ideas on the self are key concepts in sociology. The video is part of a series called 'Five Minute Sociology', aiming to explain sociological theories in a concise manner.

💡Expectations

Expectations refer to the beliefs about what is considered normal or typical behavior within a society. The video discusses how these societal expectations shape the 'Me' and influence the decisions made by the 'I'.

💡Individual

The 'individual' is a key focus in Mead's theory. It emphasizes the unique qualities and experiences that make each person distinct. The video explores how the individual's 'I' is shaped by the social context represented by the 'Generalized Other'.

💡Situation

A 'situation' in Mead's theory refers to the context in which an individual finds themselves. The video explains how the 'I' makes decisions based on the situations that the 'Me' faces, such as a student choosing a major or facing legal consequences.

💡Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions. Mead's ideas on the self are relevant to psychology as they explore how individuals perceive themselves and interact with others. The video mentions that Mead's concepts are interdisciplinary, including psychology.

Highlights

Introduction to George Herbert Mead's concept of 'I' and 'Me'.

Mead formalized the idea of 'I' and 'Me' in 1913.

Explanation of 'I' as the unfiltered version of the self.

Description of 'Me' as the socialized version of the self.

The role of the 'generalized other' in shaping self-perception.

How the 'I' makes decisions based on the expectations of the 'generalized other'.

The process of creating a new 'Me' through decision-making.

The importance of the 'I' in the decision-making process.

The 'Me' as a curated, filtered version of the self.

The 'I' considers the situation that the 'Me' is in to make decisions.

The relationship between the 'I', 'Me', and the 'generalized other' in decision-making.

Example of a student in court and how 'I' and 'Me' interact.

The 'Me' figuring out the consequences of the 'I's decisions.

The process of choosing a major as an example of 'I' and 'Me'.

The 'I' deciding between social expectations and personal interests.

The 'Me' addressing the new situation created by the 'I's decision.

The enduring relevance of Mead's ideas 100 years later.

Mead's concepts as a cornerstone in multiple disciplines.

Conclusion and sign-off of the Five Minute Sociology episode.

Transcripts

hey everybody this is Dr Maples welcome

back to five minute sociology and today

we're going to talk about George Herbert

me's I and me I'm going to explain these

terms I'm going to give you some

examples I'm even going to tell you a

100 years later why these ideas are

still important today we got a lot to do

today so uh what do you say we get

started George Herbert me was fascinated

with the construction of the self and

how the individual was shaped by the

situations happening around them he

formalized izes his idea of I and me

back in

1913 but this is something he'd been

using in his research and in his

classroom long before that now he saw I

and me as sort of two extreme poles of

the self one I being this very

unfiltered version of the self and me

being this very socialized version of

the self this disagreement between these

two polls and the constant process

between them helps to shape how we

understand who we are now we do need

another piece in this to really

understand it and that's the generalized

other which has its own 5minute

sociology video the generalized other is

an idea that helps us encapsulate all

these expectations that are placed on us

by other people by society and even by

ourselves every day we make decisions

and think about the generalize other is

this a good idea is this a bad idea what

would my grandmother think of this and

so forth I also want to give you a

sentence that I came up with that helps

us remember all of these ideas in

sequence I make decisions based on what

generalized others expect of me we're

going to use that more in just a moment

so let's put these terms together

starting with the me remember the me is

this social self this curated filtered

version of the self this exactly what

Society expects of me kind of self and

the me is put into situations based on

what the generalized other expects of it

these situations however are part of a

decision-making process that requires

the eye to make the actual decision the

eye as you'll recall is this unfiltered

version of our self that may show all

sorts of emotions that we wouldn't

necessarily expect to find in the me the

I makes decisions based on the

situations that the me is facing and in

making that decision are you ready for

this creates a new me that represents

our self our true self that we're trying

to claim here and in doing so it also

creates yet another round of

decision-making that will have to happen

where the I looks at the situation that

this the me finds itself and makes a

decision I make decisions based on what

generalized others expect of me let's

get some examples let's do two quick

examples in fing students first let's

pretend a student has to go to court

because they broke the law not that

you'd ever do that now in this situation

the students me would understand that

there are certain expectations put upon

them by the generalized other this

includes talking to the judge a

particular way we speak when spoken to

we follow the rules we dress nicely and

so forth in this situation however it's

the I that makes the decision and the I

is considering the situation in which

the me is in now this decision the IE

makes could be to have total rage at the

judge and scream and anger and be found

and condemned and put into jail and in

that situation the me is now in this new

situation of figuring out what do I do

now that I'm in jail or maybe the ey

makes a different decision and chooses

instead to be nice and respectful to the

judge and try to get out of this

situation and maybe in that situation

they get out of the charges and their

big issue is the me figuring out where

they're going to have dinner that night

although the ey would actually make that

decision for it now in another example

let's think about the process of

choosing a major the me as a student is

going to consider the generalized other

which is often what your parents might

expect you to take as a major Maj

likewise you'll be thinking about social

situations like the economy and what

jobs might be out there but then it's

the eye that makes that decision is the

eye going to adhere to those social

expectations or is the eye going to

choose what interests them maybe they

want to take underwater basket weaving

as their major and if the I decides that

the me is now in this new situation of

trying to address that another great

example of I and Me In Action I make

decisions based on what the generalized

others expect of me I and me forms an

early sociological Cornerstone as we

continue to explore even today this

relationship between the individual and

all the stuff happening around them as

well as the expectations of the

generalized other and I will point out

this is one of those very rare ideas

that pops up in multiple disciplines

it's in Psychology philosophy and

sociology to name three imp possibly

more can't say that about many ideas all

right folks I'm probably over time this

is 5 minutes sociology I'll see you next

time take care