Question
A psychologically healthy man streaked (ran around nude)at Harvard's graduation ceremony.Using George Herbert Mead's theory, how might you interpret this behavior? a. The streaker failed to separate the from the me. b. The streaker betrayed his reference group. c. The streaker has a keen awareness of the generalized other and simply enjoys seeing people's reactions. d. The streaker was not socialized properly by his family and has a poorly developed generalized other.
Answer
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Rosie
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Answer
c. The streaker has a keen awareness of the generalized other and simply enjoys seeing people's reactions.
Explanation
George Herbert Mead's theory focuses on the development of the self through social interaction. Key concepts include the "I" and the "me," where the "I" represents the spontaneous and autonomous part of the self, and the "me" represents the socialized aspect of the self, influenced by societal norms and expectations. The "generalized other" refers to the common behavioral expectations of society.Option (a) suggests a failure to separate the "I" from the "me," implying a lack of distinction between personal impulses and social norms. Option (b) implies a betrayal of a reference group, which is not directly related to Mead's theory. Option (c) indicates a keen awareness of societal expectations (the generalized other) and a desire to provoke reactions, aligning with the idea of understanding and manipulating social norms. Option (d) suggests improper socialization and a poorly developed generalized other, which is less about the awareness and more about the formation of social norms.Given Mead's focus on the awareness and interaction with societal norms, Option (c) is the most appropriate interpretation.