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When Max gets dressed, he looks at himself in a mirror and considers how people will see him. He isn't thinking of a specific person's reaction but rather that of people in general. This ability to imagine how society perceives the self is what Mead refers to as:

a. generalization
b. socialization
c. individuation
d. introspection

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Max's consideration of society's view of him is what Mead describes as the 'generalized other', a concept central to the development of the 'self' in social sciences.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Max gets dressed and considers how he is perceived by society in general, George Herbert Mead would refer to this as the concept of the 'generalized other'. This is when an individual can imagine how they are viewed by people in society and is a societal behavioral expectation learned through socialization. This ability to see oneself from the perspective of a broader societal viewpoint is integral for developing a 'self' - a distinct identity formed through social interaction.

Mead refers to the ability to imagine how society perceives the self as the Generalized Other. According to Mead, this is the stage of development where an individual is able to imagine how they are viewed by one or many others, allowing them to have a sense of self. This concept is crucial in understanding how individuals develop their identities through social interaction and the influence of societal expectations.

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