Which option is NOT a stage in Mead's model of self?

• A. Imitation
• B. Play
• C. Generalized Other
• D. I

Answer: (D)

Mead’s view explains how the self develops through social interaction by moving through stages where a child learns to see from others’ viewpoints: first by imitating, then by taking on roles in play, and finally by understanding the expectations of the broader social group—the generalized other. The I is not a stage in that progression; it’s the spontaneous, individual part of the self that acts in response to the Me and to others’ expectations. The stages describe learning to adopt others’ perspectives, while the I remains the ongoing, impulsive aspect of the self. So the non-stage element is the I.