The I and Me by George Herbert Mead (1934)

Introduction to Mead's Theory

• Basic human skills and advanced social skills need teaching and learning.
• Behavior is conditioned by social context.
• Self-awareness is a learned ability.

The Self According to Mead

• Two Aspects of the Self:
  1. I aspect:
     • Opinion of ourselves as a whole.
     • "I" is the unsocialized self.
  2. Me aspect:
     • Awareness of how others expect us to behave.
     • "Me" is the socialized self, developed through socialization.

Example Illustration

• I Aspect: Immediate reaction to stimuli, e.g., pain.
• Me Aspect: Conditioned reaction based on:
  • Personal identity (gender, age).
  • Environment (home, public).
  • Social company (family, friends, strangers).
• For further details, refer to the textbook, page 34.

Conclusion

• The "Me" or socialized self is shaped by societal values through socialization.
• Interaction with others in society influences the construction of the social self.