Final answer:
The 'I' in George Herbert Mead's theory refers to the individual's own responses, emphasizing autonomy, while the 'me' represents society's influence and expectations on the individual's behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Herbert Mead's theory describes the 'I' as the response of the individual to the attitudes of others, while the 'me' represents the organized set of attitudes of others which one assumes. The I is the spontaneous and autonomous part of our self, responsible for the individuality and uniqueness of the person. In contrast, the me is the social part of the self that reflects the expectations and attitudes of society—the social self—through the process of socialization. Danielle's case, where social interaction was absent, demonstrates the absence of the 'me' which in turn affects the formation of the 'self.'