Mead

Question 1

How does Mead define history?

Answer 1

Not as a series of events but as a dialectic process of “reflection and interaction” among individuals

Question 2

What was the difference between psychological conception of self/personality and his sociological conception of self/personality?

Answer 2

His psychological conception: the mind is a relatively “fixed structure” and the self is an innate property of an individual.
Sociological conception: Individuals are affected by their environment but not directly they reflect and based on how they choose to respond they develop their self through that interaction.

Question 3

Mead stated their are three types of self, what are they?

Answer 3

Unsocialized self, socialized self, and total self

Question 4

What is unsocialized self known as?

Answer 4

It is “I”

Question 5

What is socialized self known as?

Answer 5

It is “Me”

Question 6

What is a total self?

Answer 6

Personality, which emerges from the dialectic between a unsocialized self and a socialized self

Question 7

What is “I”?

Answer 7

The spontaneous and propulsive aspect of the individual

Question 8

What is “Me”?

Answer 8

The regulatory or controlling mechanism that reflects social rules

Question 9

Which is effected by socialization, “I” or “Me”?

Answer 9

Me. Because it is not present at birth but instead develops through the socialization process

Question 10

What does it mean when you say self is acquired through interaction in society?

Answer 10

It means self is not present at birth and it takes a life process for the individual to decide what they will do and aspire to based off their interaction with others.

Question 11

How does society affect the self?

Answer 11

Society structures opportunities and options for individuals (ideally there is unity between both)

Question 12

What is mind?

Answer 12

An organized abstract entity that is developed through psychological activity (internal mental activity) and social interaction

Question 13

What is the purpose of mind?

Answer 13

It seeks to adjust the relationship between the individual and their environment

Question 14

How is the mind organized?

Answer 14

Its organization is understood only within context and reference to a social and cultural environment

Question 15

What is the definition of gesture?

Answer 15

Any physical movement or vocal expression in one creature that instigates or stimulates a response in another creature

Question 16

What are the three types of gestures?

Answer 16

Non-Symbolic gestures (biologically instinctual), symbolic gestures (learned), and significant symbol

Question 17

What is a significant symbol?

Answer 17

It is a gesture that has a universal meaning to other individuals in the same group or society

Question 18

The foundation of self and mind is?

Answer 18

Significiant symbols

Question 19

What are the stages of self?

Answer 19

Preparatory stage (does not know much), Play stage (unstable configuration of roles with no understanding of their meaning), and game stage (takes on roles and understands them)

Question 20

When does taking the role of others occur?

Answer 20

The game stage of self

Question 21

What does it mean for an individual to take the role of others?

Answer 21

They assess the possible reactions of others and their behavior. Based on the reaction they will choose the appropriate behavior and commit the social act.

Question 22

What occurs during the process of role taking?

Answer 22

Individuals develop the conception of the generalized other, which is the when the individuals views their self and their behavior

Question 23

What does the generalized other represent?

Answer 23

The standpoint that is common to the group. (By realizing what they are doing they know what the group is doing the same thing)

Question 24

What occurs during mutual role taking?

Answer 24

Social structures emerge or patterns of behavior occur that will teach role taking and helps the group develop

Question 25

What does the degree of social control effect?

Answer 25

The existence and persistence of a society

Question 26

What is the first step for developing social control?

Answer 26

The social act

Question 27

How does one engage in a social act?

Answer 27

They have to be able to take on the role of others

Question 28

What is the result of mutual role taking?

Answer 28

Coordination of behavior which coordinates people’s interaction making the relationships the basis of a social structure and social control

Question 29

What is the most effective social control?

Answer 29

Self-criticism, which comes from the Me, which was developed by socialization

Question 30

What is the summary of social control?

Answer 30

It is internalized by individuals and then expressed as behavior