Читать книгу Essentials of Sociology - George Ritzer - Страница 137

Mead also developed the concept of the generalized other, or the attitude of the entire group or community. The generalized other includes the roles, prescriptions, and proscriptions individuals use to develop their own behaviors, attitudes, and so forth. Individuals take the role of the generalized other. That is, they look at themselves and what they do from the perspective of the group or community. “What would people think if I . . .” is a question that demonstrates the role of the generalized other.

The generalized other becomes central to the development of self during the game stage. In the classroom, the generalized other is the attitude of a group working on a collaborative project. In the family, to take still another example, it is the attitude of all family members. In taking on the perspectives of the generalized other, children begin developing more fully rounded and complete selves. They can view and evaluate themselves from the perspective of a group or community and not merely from the viewpoints of discrete others. To have a coherent self, in the full sense of the term, as an adult one must become a member of a group or community. An adult must also be sensitive to the attitudes common to the community. Having members who can take the role of the generalized other is also essential to the development of the group, especially in its organized activities. The group can function more effectively and efficiently because it is highly likely that individual members will understand and do what is expected of them. In turn, individuals can operate more efficiently within the group because they can better anticipate what others will do.

This discussion might lead you to think that the demands of the generalized other produce conformists. However, Mead argues that while selves within a group share some commonalities, each self is different because each has a unique biographical history and experience. Furthermore, there are many groups and communities in society and therefore many generalized others. Your generalized other in a baseball game is different from your generalized other in a classroom or in the family.