Notes: George Herbert Mead | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
George Herbert Mead 
• Mead is known for developing an evolutionary theory combining body, mind, self & society He considers 
them as a part of single evolutionary process This approach came to be known, as a cosmological 
evolutionary theory or even a pragmatist approach 
• He developed a non – dualistic approach combining - Subjective & objective - Body & mind - Micro & 
macro  
• He considers them as in an evolutionary process rather than dualistic social realities 
• His main concern was not only to develop theory but also finding solutions to social problems.  
• He was actively involved in development of govt. plans & policies besides being an eminent educationist 
• He is considered as father of symbolic interactionism which was the basis of his pragmatic approach. He 
understood social reality in terms of interactions b/w individuals mediated by symbols. For eg. the 
behavior of an individual. The behavior of an individual can only be understood in terms of the behavior 
of the whole social group of which he is a member. 
Mead believed in the use of scientific methods similar to natural sciences. Being an ardent supported of 
natural science he considered it as superior. 
In totality Mead’s “Theory of Self” is known as –  
- Empirical   
- Pragmatist 
- Cosmological  
- Evolutionary Theory of self  
- [These 4 are Mead’s dimensions of methodology] 
Mead starts with understanding in detail the biological capacities of the organisms. For him body is 
physiological and brain is nothing but a network of neural nerves. Body keeps on evolving and this 
process of evolution is not same for all organisms. The biological capacity imposes a limitation on the 
movements, reflexes, vision etc. Mead highlights the importance of biological capacity on gestures. 
Gestures are of 2 types. - Verbal - Non–Verbal Verbal include different signs ranging from elementary to 
most developed sounds. Non–verbal include hand movements, body language etc. These gestures are 
essential for the communication process or interactions. 
According to him the gestures are symbols used in the communication process. The biological capacities 
also impose restriction on the performance of acts. Act is either organic - which involves the biological 
aspect Or The act is social 
Organic act involves 4 stages :- 
Internal  
1) Impulse  
2) Perception 
 
Page 2


 
 
George Herbert Mead 
• Mead is known for developing an evolutionary theory combining body, mind, self & society He considers 
them as a part of single evolutionary process This approach came to be known, as a cosmological 
evolutionary theory or even a pragmatist approach 
• He developed a non – dualistic approach combining - Subjective & objective - Body & mind - Micro & 
macro  
• He considers them as in an evolutionary process rather than dualistic social realities 
• His main concern was not only to develop theory but also finding solutions to social problems.  
• He was actively involved in development of govt. plans & policies besides being an eminent educationist 
• He is considered as father of symbolic interactionism which was the basis of his pragmatic approach. He 
understood social reality in terms of interactions b/w individuals mediated by symbols. For eg. the 
behavior of an individual. The behavior of an individual can only be understood in terms of the behavior 
of the whole social group of which he is a member. 
Mead believed in the use of scientific methods similar to natural sciences. Being an ardent supported of 
natural science he considered it as superior. 
In totality Mead’s “Theory of Self” is known as –  
- Empirical   
- Pragmatist 
- Cosmological  
- Evolutionary Theory of self  
- [These 4 are Mead’s dimensions of methodology] 
Mead starts with understanding in detail the biological capacities of the organisms. For him body is 
physiological and brain is nothing but a network of neural nerves. Body keeps on evolving and this 
process of evolution is not same for all organisms. The biological capacity imposes a limitation on the 
movements, reflexes, vision etc. Mead highlights the importance of biological capacity on gestures. 
Gestures are of 2 types. - Verbal - Non–Verbal Verbal include different signs ranging from elementary to 
most developed sounds. Non–verbal include hand movements, body language etc. These gestures are 
essential for the communication process or interactions. 
According to him the gestures are symbols used in the communication process. The biological capacities 
also impose restriction on the performance of acts. Act is either organic - which involves the biological 
aspect Or The act is social 
Organic act involves 4 stages :- 
Internal  
1) Impulse  
2) Perception 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
External  
1) Manipulation  
2) Consummation 
 
Social Act 
• Social act is a collective act involving participation of 2 or more individuals and involves a 
process of interaction. Involving communication. Social acts are of many types ranging from 
simple to complex acts depending upon nature of interaction. Society constitutes of aggregate 
of such social acts. The process of interaction involves the use of gestures & the acts. The 
interaction is mediated by gestures or symbols which have common meaning for all. Mead calls 
this as significant gestures or significant symbols. The beginning of interaction initiates the 
process of development of self. 
The process of development of self involves 2 parts 
Inner Conversation 
The process of inner conversation is nothing but mind 
Outer Conversation  
Verbal/non–verbal conversation with outside world 
In this context Mead also refers to the concept of consciousness. One form of consciousness, which 
is important in development of self is reflective consciousness or reflective intelligence. It is the 
capacity of the mind to find new ways or thinking on its own. According to Mead mind is nothing but 
the process of inner conversation. Which gradually develops through communication. This gradual 
evolution of mind involves the development of consciousness or intelligence simultaneously. 
According to Mead the process of development of mind and increasing social interactions within 
social acts lead to gradual evolution of self. 
What is Self? 
• According to Mead – “a person’s self consists of his own thoughts about the unified goal of his 
or her body, emotions, thoughts & actions” It is part of the private world of the individual. The 
self gradually emerges out of your interactions with others. The self evolves through a process 
of looking glass–self. a theory earlier propounded by C.H. Cooley in his book “The social 
organizations”. 
Page 3


 
 
George Herbert Mead 
• Mead is known for developing an evolutionary theory combining body, mind, self & society He considers 
them as a part of single evolutionary process This approach came to be known, as a cosmological 
evolutionary theory or even a pragmatist approach 
• He developed a non – dualistic approach combining - Subjective & objective - Body & mind - Micro & 
macro  
• He considers them as in an evolutionary process rather than dualistic social realities 
• His main concern was not only to develop theory but also finding solutions to social problems.  
• He was actively involved in development of govt. plans & policies besides being an eminent educationist 
• He is considered as father of symbolic interactionism which was the basis of his pragmatic approach. He 
understood social reality in terms of interactions b/w individuals mediated by symbols. For eg. the 
behavior of an individual. The behavior of an individual can only be understood in terms of the behavior 
of the whole social group of which he is a member. 
Mead believed in the use of scientific methods similar to natural sciences. Being an ardent supported of 
natural science he considered it as superior. 
In totality Mead’s “Theory of Self” is known as –  
- Empirical   
- Pragmatist 
- Cosmological  
- Evolutionary Theory of self  
- [These 4 are Mead’s dimensions of methodology] 
Mead starts with understanding in detail the biological capacities of the organisms. For him body is 
physiological and brain is nothing but a network of neural nerves. Body keeps on evolving and this 
process of evolution is not same for all organisms. The biological capacity imposes a limitation on the 
movements, reflexes, vision etc. Mead highlights the importance of biological capacity on gestures. 
Gestures are of 2 types. - Verbal - Non–Verbal Verbal include different signs ranging from elementary to 
most developed sounds. Non–verbal include hand movements, body language etc. These gestures are 
essential for the communication process or interactions. 
According to him the gestures are symbols used in the communication process. The biological capacities 
also impose restriction on the performance of acts. Act is either organic - which involves the biological 
aspect Or The act is social 
Organic act involves 4 stages :- 
Internal  
1) Impulse  
2) Perception 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
External  
1) Manipulation  
2) Consummation 
 
Social Act 
• Social act is a collective act involving participation of 2 or more individuals and involves a 
process of interaction. Involving communication. Social acts are of many types ranging from 
simple to complex acts depending upon nature of interaction. Society constitutes of aggregate 
of such social acts. The process of interaction involves the use of gestures & the acts. The 
interaction is mediated by gestures or symbols which have common meaning for all. Mead calls 
this as significant gestures or significant symbols. The beginning of interaction initiates the 
process of development of self. 
The process of development of self involves 2 parts 
Inner Conversation 
The process of inner conversation is nothing but mind 
Outer Conversation  
Verbal/non–verbal conversation with outside world 
In this context Mead also refers to the concept of consciousness. One form of consciousness, which 
is important in development of self is reflective consciousness or reflective intelligence. It is the 
capacity of the mind to find new ways or thinking on its own. According to Mead mind is nothing but 
the process of inner conversation. Which gradually develops through communication. This gradual 
evolution of mind involves the development of consciousness or intelligence simultaneously. 
According to Mead the process of development of mind and increasing social interactions within 
social acts lead to gradual evolution of self. 
What is Self? 
• According to Mead – “a person’s self consists of his own thoughts about the unified goal of his 
or her body, emotions, thoughts & actions” It is part of the private world of the individual. The 
self gradually emerges out of your interactions with others. The self evolves through a process 
of looking glass–self. a theory earlier propounded by C.H. Cooley in his book “The social 
organizations”. 
 
 
• It involves interaction of other’s reactions towards the person by oneself. (we perform action – 
we see the reaction of others – we judge or interpret other’s reaction)  
• This is how the interpretation of one’s own self emerges. In this way Mead argues body, 
gestures, mind & self all evolve at the same time influencing each other. “Self & society are twin 
born” 
3 stages in the process of development of self 
Mead visualizes 3 stages in the process of development of self: 
Early Phase (0 – 2 years) In which the biological capacity of the child evolves. Child learns to use gestures 
but the process of inner conversation is minimum. They are more of reflexes. Child is more involved with 
imitation 
Play Stage (2 – 7 years) This stage involves the learning of significant symbols. A process of inner 
conversation starts. Child interacts with the peer groups & starts imitating the roles primarily of the 
significant others. Significant others involve parents or any other person close to the child. Child at this 
stage plays the role of significant other through imitation, a phenomenon which Mead terms as “role 
playing”. 
Game Stage (After 7 years) In this stage the child engages in interaction with all others, i.e., all others 
apart from significant others with whom child comes in interaction. At this stage the reflective 
consciousness of child develops. At this stage child learns other roles through games. He calls it “Playing 
at a role”. 
 
“I” & “Me” 
• Mead further explains the conception of self as containing “I” & “Me” 
• “I” is the psychological aspect of the self-referring to individual’s own impulses, desires, 
emotions etc. Whereas “Me” is the social aspect of the self which is evaluative & keeps control 
on “I”. “I” is the source of energy and me controls it. Both are inconceivable without each other. 
Both gradually evolve with the evolution of body & mind. 
It is the “I” who takes the initiative It is “me” who evaluates these initiatives. “I” acts “me” observes It is 
the complex operation of “I” & “me” which leads to development of self Depending upon the relative 
significance of “I” & “Me” in human personality, the self or identity of a person varies 
Mead further intended to develop a universal evolutionary theory of society On the one hand of which 
is –  
- The physical environment (i.e. institutions)  
- Macro society - Micro society (i.e. interactions) and on the other  
- The biological aspect of individual (i.e. body) 
- Psychological aspect (i.e. Mind) & 
- Social aspect (i.e. self) 
Society evolves in a non–dualistic manner with continuous interaction b/w the two.