The Development of the Self-Test 2

John Locke’s Theory

Theory: Every newly born individual is a tabula rasa, or clean slate.

==Meaning==: Each of us is born without a personality, and we acquire personality as a result of our social experiences.

Charles Horton Cooley’s Theory

Theory: Individuals develop a sense of self through a 3-step process, called “the looking glass self.”

==Meaning==: First, we imagine how we appear to others. Second, based on their reactions to us, we attempt to determine whether others view us as we view ourselves. Finally, we use our perceptions of how others judge us to develop feelings about ourselves.

George Herbert Mead’s Theory

Theory: Individuals learn not only how to see themselves as others see them, but also how to take the roles of others.

Role-taking: When a child imagines what it’s like to be an adult before they actually become one. ==Meaning==: We first learn to internalize the expectations of our significant others. As we grow older, we internalize the attitudes, expectations, and view points of the generalized other, or society. In this process, the “me” component of our personalities gradually gains dominance over the “I” component.