Analysis Of George Herbert Mead's Mind, Self, And Society

In the book Mind, Self, and Society, by George Herbert Mead (1934) there are three major sections the mind, self and society. In the first section, the Mind, Mead explores how the mind is constructed. He examines gestures, significant symbols, and language and discovers the “Mind arises through communication by conversation of gestures in a social process or context of experience- not communication through mind” (50). These gestures or movements are significant ways to communicate with another only once a definition of the gesture is provided. Through this the mind is created through reflectiveness. The second section is self. Self is created through play and games. The individual is constantly changing in order to reflect the attitudes of the social groups. The last section is about society. Mead suggests that individuals are constantly changing their environment in order to best fit their needs. Also when individuals take on certain roles they are contributing to society.
Mind …show more content…
This is evident when looking at the behavior being reflexive. This reflexive manner is scene with role taking, significant symbols, internal conversations, and self-indications (Meltzer 1992:259). According to social interactionists, characteristics of the mind are created by an action that is subject to control and modification depending on the response from other individuals and themselves. Mead explains reflexivity as, “that which enables the individual to take the attitude of the other toward himself” (1934:38). In return this reflexivity helps the development of the