Final answer:
The characteristic 'immediate response to others' does not describe the 'I' in Mead's explanation; it describes 'me' as the socialized self, whereas 'I' is the spontaneous, creative aspect.
Step-by-step explanation:
In George Herbert Mead's explanation of the 'I' and 'me,' the concept of 'I' is not characterized by an immediate response to others. This is because 'I' represents the spontaneous and creative aspect of the self that can act unpredictably and without the direct influence of social norms and the expectations of others. Instead, the 'I' acts creatively and has the capacity to have an impact, while it is the 'me' that represents the socialized aspect of the self, accounting for the internalization of the generalized other. This includes understanding and adhering to social norms and the common behavioral expectations of general society.