George Herbert Mead Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is George Herbert Mead?

George Herbert Mead was an American philosopher, sociologist, and social psychologist. He is known for developing a theory of the self that has been influential in social psychology, sociology, and anthropology. He taught at the University of Chicago from 1894 until his death in 1931.Mead’s most famous contribution to social psychology was his theory of the self. He argued that humans develop a sense of self through interaction with other individuals. According to Mead, this process begins in childhood as children learn to take the role of others and use symbols to represent themselves in their interactions with others. This process leads to an understanding of one’s own identity as well as how others view them. Mead also believed that society played a role in shaping the individual’s sense of self by providing a shared set of cultural values and norms which people internalize throughout their life course.Mead’s work had a profound influence on American pragmatism, particularly on John Dewey’s educational philosophy which emphasized learning through experience rather than rote memorization or passive instruction. His contributions have also been influential across various disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, communication studies, and psychology due to his unique approach to understanding human behavior and its relationship with society. Mead’s theories remain relevant today as they are still invoked by scholars studying topics such as identity formation and intercultural communication among other things. The importance he placed on understanding how our actions shape our identities continues to be seen in contemporary discussions about power dynamics within groups and societies more broadly speaking.