Developing personality through relationships Flashcards
What were Charles Cooley and George Mead interested in?
Around the turn of the twentieth century, Cooley and Mead were interested in how the human personality developed from infancy. They focused their research on the social interactions and social learning that take place during the early childhood years. They also asked this question: How do we develop the idea of who we are as an individual? In other words, how do we develop our concept of “self” in early childhood?
What were the steps to creating a looking-glass self?
Step 1: Imagining our own appearance: We imagine how we might appear to others, especially those we consider significant in our lives such as our immediate family.
Step 2: Interpreting the reactions of others: As we continue to interact with others, we interpret their reactions. How have they judged us? Do they think we are funny, smart, or grown-up?
Step 3: Developing a self-concept: Based on the reactions of others, we build a sense of who we are – we develop a concept of ourselves. We will also tend to act the same way again if we get a positive reaction from others, or will try to change our behaviour if their reaction is negative.
What were Mead’s three stages to the role of others in the looking-glass self?
Stage 1: Imitation Stage (Birth to 3 years)
Children begin to imitate the people they interact with. For example, when a parent claps her hands, so does the baby.
Stage 2: Play Stage (From 3 years of age)
Children begin to role-play. They dress up as a parent or play house. They begin to see the world from the perspective of someone else.
Stage 3: Game Stage (early school years)
Children begin to understand the roles, values, and expectations of society. Children enjoy playing games, often with complex rules.
