Which theorist is most closely linked to the development of the self through I, Me, and role-taking?

• A. George Herbert Mead
• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Erik Erikson
• D. Karl Marx

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how the self forms through social interaction, using the concepts of I, Me, and role-taking. George Herbert Mead argued that the self develops as we interact with others. The “I” is the spontaneous, acting part of the self, while the “Me” is the organized, socialized aspect formed from how others see us and the norms we internalize. Through role-taking, we learn to see ourselves from another person’s perspective, which helps us anticipate how others will respond and gradually internalize social expectations. This ongoing process leads to a more developed sense of self and prepares us to participate as members of a community, often shaping a broader sense of how society views us (the generalized other).

Freud focuses on unconscious drives and the conflict between the id, ego, and superego; Erikson emphasizes psychosocial stages across the lifespan; Marx centers on class and economic relations shaping consciousness.