George Herbert Mead

Mead’s theory reflected his personal experience. He was born in a small town in Massachusetts, received his education at Oberlin and Harvard, and became a major influence at the U of Chicago. His self-awareness no doubt grew as he experienced more of his environment.

Even Mead’s career was a social product. He never published a book but his articles and students continued to preach Mead’s humanistic views. For Mead, problem solving should be rational and useful. We develop different selves for different audiences, but the self is a product of those experiences, not a process we undertake.