The 'I" and "Me"
Social Self Theory
George Herbert Mead, a sociologist from the late 1800s, is well known for his theory
of the social self, which includes the concepts of 'self,' 'me,' and 'I.' In this lesson, we
will explore Mead's theory and gain a better understanding of what is meant by the
terms 'me' and 'I.' We will also discuss the concept, derived out of Mead's work, of the
looking-glass self.
Sociologist George Herbert Mead believed that people develop self-images through
interactions with other people. He argued that the Self, which is the part of a person’s
personality consisting of self-awareness and self-image, is a product of social
experience. He outlined four ideas about how the self develops:
1. The Self develops solely social experience. Mead rejected Freud’s notion that
personality is determined partly by biological drives.
2. Social experience consists of the exchange of symbols. Mead emphasized the
particularly human use of language and other symbols to convey meaning.
3. Knowing others’ intentions requires imagining the situation from their
perspectives. Mead believed that social experience depends on our seeing ourselves as
others do, or, as he coined it, “taking the role of the other.”
4. Understanding the role of the other results in self-awareness. Mead posited that there
is an active “I” self and an objective “me” self. The “I” self is active and initiates action. The
“me” self continues, interrupts, or changes action depending on how others respond.
He believed that the key to self-development is understanding the role of the other. He
also outlined steps in the process of development from birth to adulthood.
http://integral-options.blogspot.com/2010/12/simon-susen-meadian-reflections-on.html (
Links to an external site.)
Mead's work focuses on the way in which the self is developed. Mead's theory of the
social self is based on the perspective that the self emerges from social interactions,
such as observing and interacting with others, responding to others' opinions about
oneself, and internalizing external opinions and internal feelings about oneself. The
social aspect of self is an important distinction because other sociologists and
psychologists of Mead's time felt that the self was based on biological factors and
inherited traits. According to Mead, the self is not there from birth, but it is developed
over time from social experiences and activities.
Development of Self
According to Mead, three activities develop the self: language, play, and games.
Social Self Theory
George Herbert Mead, a sociologist from the late 1800s, is well known for his theory
of the social self, which includes the concepts of 'self,' 'me,' and 'I.' In this lesson, we
will explore Mead's theory and gain a better understanding of what is meant by the
terms 'me' and 'I.' We will also discuss the concept, derived out of Mead's work, of the
looking-glass self.
Sociologist George Herbert Mead believed that people develop self-images through
interactions with other people. He argued that the Self, which is the part of a person’s
personality consisting of self-awareness and self-image, is a product of social
experience. He outlined four ideas about how the self develops:
1. The Self develops solely social experience. Mead rejected Freud’s notion that
personality is determined partly by biological drives.
2. Social experience consists of the exchange of symbols. Mead emphasized the
particularly human use of language and other symbols to convey meaning.
3. Knowing others’ intentions requires imagining the situation from their
perspectives. Mead believed that social experience depends on our seeing ourselves as
others do, or, as he coined it, “taking the role of the other.”
4. Understanding the role of the other results in self-awareness. Mead posited that there
is an active “I” self and an objective “me” self. The “I” self is active and initiates action. The
“me” self continues, interrupts, or changes action depending on how others respond.
He believed that the key to self-development is understanding the role of the other. He
also outlined steps in the process of development from birth to adulthood.
http://integral-options.blogspot.com/2010/12/simon-susen-meadian-reflections-on.html (
Links to an external site.)
Mead's work focuses on the way in which the self is developed. Mead's theory of the
social self is based on the perspective that the self emerges from social interactions,
such as observing and interacting with others, responding to others' opinions about
oneself, and internalizing external opinions and internal feelings about oneself. The
social aspect of self is an important distinction because other sociologists and
psychologists of Mead's time felt that the self was based on biological factors and
inherited traits. According to Mead, the self is not there from birth, but it is developed
over time from social experiences and activities.
Development of Self
According to Mead, three activities develop the self: language, play, and games.
