George Herbert Mead's Theory of Self and Socialization

Vocabulary flashcards covering George Herbert Mead's social self theory and Charles Cooley's looking-glass self-concept.

George Herbert Mead

A sociologist from the late 1800s well known for his theory of the social self, focusing on how the self is developed through social interactions.

Social Self Theory

The perspective that the self emerges from social interactions, such as observing others, responding to opinions, and internalizing external opinions and internal feelings.

Language

One of Mead's three activities that develop the self by allowing individuals to respond to each other through symbols, gestures, words, and sounds.

Play

An activity that develops self-consciousness through role-playing, allowing individuals to internalize the perspectives of others and take on different roles.

Games

An activity that develops the self by requiring individuals to understand and adhere to rules to be successful or win.

'Me'

The socialized aspect of the individual that represents learned behaviors, attitudes, and expectations of society; it is considered the past phase of the self.

Generalized other

Another term for the 'me' phase of the self, representing the knowledge of society and social interactions gained by the individual.

'I'

The present and future phase of the self that represents an individual's identity based on their response to the 'me,' allowing for creativity and individualism.

Charles Cooley

The sociologist who built upon Mead's work to create the concept of the looking-glass self.

Looking-glass self

A concept consisting of three stages (imagining, interpreting, and developing self-concept) that describes how the self develops continuously throughout life.

Imagining

The first stage of the looking-glass self where an individual judges their appearance and actions through the views of family, friends, and teachers; the 'this is how I must appear to others' stage.

Interpreting

The second stage of the looking-glass self where an individual draws conclusions from past experiences and reacts to the judgments of others.

Developing self-concept

The final stage of the looking-glass self where an individual synthesizes all information to develop a sense of self-image; the 'this is who I am' stage.