George Herbert Mead- Exam 1

america + professor

where is Mead from + occupation?

4

how many stages does the act have?

impulse

first stage of the act

• actor reacts to external stimulus and feels the need to do something

• ex. between class, someone waves at you

perception

second stage of the act

• after initial impulse, humans _____ their environment, including recognition of symbolic elements

• wave ex. take in environment, “are they waving at me?”

manipulation

third stage of the act

• after we take in our environment, we ________ the different elements

• wave ex. take in environment, contemplate waving

• key moments of pause before action

• stage where society becomes possible

• takes place in the mind & we role-take

consumption

fourth stage of the act

• after manipulation, we’re in a position to act on the initial impulse

• action is taken

• wave ex. we either wave or don’t

interaction

refers to the ongoing negotiation and connecting of individual actions

• results from the back-and-forth negotiation over a symbolic action, meaning is emergent

significant symbols

symbols that elicit in the person expressing them the same kind of response as theu are intended to elicit from those to whom they are addressed

• wedding ring communicates commitment to all who see it

• red light means “stop”, green light means “go”

collapsed action

note taking ex., years of ____ ____ into one distinct action, eventually leading to a response.

language

the name for a set of signs, symbols, and social objects shared by any group

• a type of social reservoir of human experiences

3

how many stages does the self emerge in in childhood?

preparatory stage

first stage in the emergence of the self in childhood

• imitation where children mimic the behaviors of others without understanding the underlying meanings.

play stage

second stage in the emergence of the self in childhood

• key process of role taking

• ex. pretend/dramatic play

game stage

third stage in the emergence of the self in childhood

• generalized other

• ability to consider multiple roles and expectations at once, allowing for a more complex understanding of social interactions.

2

how many interactive faucets does the self have?

the I

the first facet of the self

• the unsocialized and spontaneous part

• it allows for a unique personality and novelty in the social world

the Me

the second facet of the self

• the socialized part that results from the progressive stages in role-taking leading to the generalized other

• ex. the voice in our heads guiding social interaction

sociopath/psychopaths, lacking empathy

what might we call someone who could not engage in this internal dialogue between the I and me?