Which sociologist is associated with the idea that the self is formed through interaction with others?

• A. George Herbert Mead
• B. Emile Durkheim
• C. Karl Marx
• D. Max Weber

Answer: (A)

The self is formed through social interaction, a process in which we develop who we are by taking the perspectives of others and internalizing social norms. George Herbert Mead is the scholar most associated with this view. He argued that the mind and the self emerge as people engage with others, especially through roles we pretend to play in childhood, the way we learn to anticipate others’ expectations, and the development of the ability to see ourselves from another’s standpoint. Through language and shared symbols, we internalize how others see us, shaping our sense of “I” and “me” and, in turn, our identity.

Durkheim centers on social facts and how collective norms shape behavior, but not the micro-process of self-formation through interaction. Marx focuses on class relations and economic structures that influence ideology and social life. Weber emphasizes rationalization and the varied meanings people attach to actions. These perspectives are valuable, but Mead uniquely links the emergence of the self to ongoing social interaction.