Notes on Looking-Glass Self, I vs Me, and Generalized Other

Self develops through social experience; the speaker highlights the idea that our sense of self—our I and our Me—emerges from interaction with others and the larger society.
I and Me (roles in the self):
- I: the spontaneous, acting part of the self in the moment.
- Me: the reflective, socially influenced aspect, formed through norms and expectations.
Generalized Other: internalized sense of cultural norms and the attitudes of the broader society that guide our behavior in unfamiliar situations.
Looking-Glass Self: the concept that self-views are formed by imagining how others perceive us, interpreting their reactions, and incorporating those responses into our self-concept.
Social experience as the mechanism of self-formation: through taking on roles, observing others, and receiving feedback, the self evolves.

Role-play exercise: multiple roles in a hospital setting (nurse, doctor, patient) illustrate how we learn and internalize different social positions.
The speaker emphasizes that this is more than just adopting another role; it involves a deeper awareness of how the self sits in relation to a team and social expectations.
The line of thinking: when you take a role, you consider how you fit within a group and how you are perceived by others in that role.

Example: going to a business meeting with a person you’ve never met.
- You manage outward cues: grooming (teeth, hair), posture, and framing of the interaction (handshake, greeting).
- Inside, you imagine how the other person perceives you while you’re in the moment.
- Your mind tracks the other person’s perception and your own interpretation of the interaction.
The cognitive steps in the moment:
1) You imagine how others perceive you.
2) You interpret that perception and form a self-assessment or reaction in the moment.
3) You check for feedback from the interaction (or anticipate external feedback, such as reactions in later contexts).
The speaker introduces the idea that you might also consider how your post or action would be received by others (e.g., social media feedback like likes or comments) and how that feedback influences your self-view.

If others respond positively (likes, comments), you may feel good or validated, reinforcing a positive self-concept.
The self-concept that develops is contingent on perceived social feedback rather than guaranteed, objective truth about how others view you.
Acknowledgement that perception is fallible: we do not know with certainty what others think; we are inferring.

The idea that we are each other’s looking glasses: others also interpret and react to us, shaping their own self-views in turn.
This reciprocal reflection means people help us think about ourselves in ways we might not consider on our own.

Grounding idea: the self arises from social interaction and the meaning of actions is co-constructed through communication (symbolic interactionism).
I and Me concept is rooted in the broader theory that individuals internalize societal norms and then act within them.
Generalized Other represents the internalized norms of the broader community or culture, enabling us to predict and navigate unfamiliar social situations.
The speaker’s use of workplace and social media examples illustrates how everyday behavior is informed by these constructs.

Identity formation is an ongoing, social process influenced by role-taking, feedback, and cultural norms.
Social media feedback can shape self-concept, highlighting the power of online interactions in identity development.
Understanding this framework helps explain why people adjust appearance, behavior, and presentation to align with perceived expectations.

The self is not an isolated essence but a social construct, raising questions about authenticity vs. social conformity.
There is potential for misinterpretation: what we think others think may not reflect reality, leading to distorted self-perceptions.
Practically, being aware of this process can help in communication, teamwork, and self-presentation in professional and social contexts.

I: the spontaneous, active sense of self in the moment.
Me: the reflective, socialized aspect of self formed through interactions and internalized norms.
Generalized Other: the internalized sense of cultural norms and expectations from the wider community.
Looking-Glass Self: the process by which self-concept is shaped by imagined and interpreted perceptions of others.

Self is socially constructed through role-taking and interaction with others.
The I and Me provide a dual perspective within the self: action in the moment vs. socialized self.
The Generalized Other enables navigation of unfamiliar social contexts by internalizing cultural norms.
Self-concept is influenced by feedback from others, including informal feedback on social media.
Not all perceived judgments are accurate; self-understanding results from an interpretation of others’ perceptions.

Explain how the Looking-Glass Self leads to the development of the Me component of the self.
Describe a real-life scenario where generalized other norms influence your behavior.
Discuss how social media feedback could affect self-concept, including potential positive and negative effects.

Builds on symbolic interactionism and the idea that meanings are created through social interaction.
Reinforces the concept of self as a social product rather than a purely internal construct.