According to the symbolic interactionist George Herbert Mead, the generalized other is: a. a recognition of general societal rules and expectations that dictate appropriate social behaviors b. any agent of socialization who serves to teach an individual to become a member of a social group. c. the guidelines and expectations associated with a particular role. d. the inability of very young children to differentiate between themselves and others. e. the role toddlers take on when they graduate from the meaningless imitation of infancy to the play-acting stage of young childhood. 2

a)

Explanation:

The concept of the Generalized Other was first introduced by George Herbert Mead and refers to the general notion that one person has about the expectations the other have of him/her as a member of a society.

Is it because of this Generalized Other that people act like they do (they act in the way they think society expect them to) so they act according to the norms and values of this group or society.

Therefore, the correct answer is a) a recognition of general societal rules and expectations that dictate appropriate social behaviors

*Note:

b) is not right because the Generalized Other doesn't refer to a person in particular.

c) is not right because the Generalized Other doesn't refer to a particular role but more to the general rules as member of a society.

d) is not right because the Generalized Other actually refers to a milestone in development.

e) This refers to the play-game stages and is not about the Generalized Other.