Understanding The Self: George Herbert Mead, The Social Self

Summary

In this educational video, George Herbert Mead, a foundational figure in American pragmatism and social psychology, is discussed. Mead's theory of self is explored, emphasizing the development of the 'I' and 'Me' through social interaction. The 'I' represents individual responses to societal attitudes, while the 'Me' is the adherence to social norms. Mead outlines three stages of self-development: the preparatory stage of imitation, the play stage of pretend play and self-consciousness, and the game stage of understanding societal roles and rules. The video concludes by highlighting socialization as a lifelong process that shapes one's identity and sense of self.

Takeaways

• 📚 George Herbert Mead is a renowned American sociologist and a pioneer in social psychology.
• 🧬 Mead rejected biological determinism, arguing that the self is not pre-established at birth.
• 🤔 The self, according to Mead, develops through social interactions and experiences.
• 👥 Mead introduced the concept of 'I' and 'Me' as two components of the self, where 'I' is the individual's response and 'Me' is the social self.
• 👶 The 'Preparatory stage' is the initial phase where infants imitate actions without understanding.
• 🎮 The 'Play stage' is crucial for children's self-consciousness development through pretend play.
• 🏆 The 'Game stage' is where children learn to recognize rules and roles, understanding societal viewpoints.
• 🔁 Socialization is a lifelong process that shapes and reshapes one's identity and sense of self.
• 🌐 Interactions and experiences throughout life, at school, home, or work, contribute to defining one's concrete identity.
• 🌟 Mead's theory emphasizes the dynamic nature of self, influenced by both societal attitudes and individual responses.

Q & A

Who is George Herbert Mead and what is his significance in the field of social psychology?

George Herbert Mead was an American sociologist and philosopher who is considered the father of American pragmatism. He was one of the pioneers in the field of social psychology, known for his contributions to the development of the self in relation to various social factors.

What did Mead reject in terms of the formation of the self?

Mead rejected the idea of biological determination of the self, which suggests that an individual has an established self from the moment of birth. Instead, he believed that the self develops through social interactions.

According to Mead, how does the self develop?

For Mead, the self develops through the construction and reconstruction of the idea of who we are as a person during the process of social experience.

What are the two components of the self that Mead proposed?

Mead proposed that there are two components of the self: the 'I' and the 'Me'. The 'Me' consists of the characteristics, behaviors, and actions that follow the generalized others one interacts with, while the 'I' is the individual's reaction to the attitudes of others and the manifestation of their individuality.

What is the role of the 'I' in Mead's theory of self?

In Mead's theory, the 'I' represents one's response to the established attitude and behavior that a person assumes in reference to their social interactions, signifying self-creativity.

How does the 'Me' aspect of the self function according to Mead?

The 'Me' in Mead's theory is the self-created through socialization, representing the attitudes and behaviors of a person with reference to their social environment.

What are the three stages of self-development that Mead proposed?

Mead proposed three stages of self-development: the preparatory stage, the play stage, and the game stage.

What happens during the preparatory stage in Mead's theory?

During the preparatory stage, infants imitate the actions and behaviors of the people they interact with, reflecting what they observe without any specific intention or meaning behind their actions.

How does the play stage differ from the preparatory stage in Mead's theory?

In the play stage, children begin to interact with others with certain rules, often self-imposed, and start practicing real-life situations through pretend play, marking the onset of self-consciousness.

What is the significance of the game stage in the development of the self according to Mead?

The game stage is the final stage where children recognize the rules of the game and understand their roles and those of others. They learn the implications of their actions and how society views them, leading to a more concrete identity and sense of self.

How does socialization continue to influence the self throughout a person's life according to Mead?

Socialization is a lifelong process for Mead. As people interact with different individuals and experience various social environments, such as school, home, or work, these interactions and experiences help define a more concrete identity and sense of self.