Examples of Mead's I and Me: Dr. Maples Five Minute Sociology #13
Summary
TLDRIn 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
- π George Herbert Mead's concept of 'I' and 'Me' explores the construction of the self and how individuals are shaped by their environment.
- π΅οΈββοΈ 'I' represents the unfiltered, individualistic aspect of the self, while 'Me' is the socialized, curated version influenced by societal expectations.
- π The interaction between 'I' and 'Me' is a dynamic process that helps in understanding one's identity.
- π₯ The 'Generalized Other' is a sociological concept that encapsulates societal expectations and influences decision-making.
- π Mead suggests that decisions are made based on what the 'Generalized Other' expects of an individual.
- π In the context of a student facing legal trouble, the 'I' must decide how to react, which affects the 'Me' and subsequent situations.
- π The choice of a college major is influenced by the 'Generalized Other' but ultimately decided by the 'I', affecting the 'Me'.
- π The decision-making process involving 'I' and 'Me' is cyclical, with new decisions creating new versions of the 'Me'.
- π Mead's ideas on 'I' and 'Me' are foundational in sociology and have applications in psychology and philosophy.
- π 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
π§ 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.'
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘George Herbert Mead
π‘Self
π‘I
π‘Me
π‘Generalized Other
π‘Decision-making
π‘Sociology
π‘Expectations
π‘Individual
π‘Situation
π‘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
Browse More Related Video
Five minute sociology #3: Mead's Generalized Other
Understanding The Self: George Herbert Mead, The Social Self
UTS Series: Self From Sociological Perspective
Lesson 2- The Self as the Cognitive Construct
LESSON 2: SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF || Understanding the Self - Marvin CabaΓ±ero
Understanding the Self - Sociological Perspective of the Self (The Self, Society, and Culture)
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)