generalized other: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very Low (Specialist)Academic (primarily Sociology, Social Psychology, Philosophy, Education)
Quick answer
What does “generalized other” mean?
The concept, originating from George Herbert Mead's symbolic interactionism, referring to an individual's internalized understanding of the collective attitudes, expectations, and perspectives of the broader society or community, which guides their behavior and self-conception.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The concept, originating from George Herbert Mead's symbolic interactionism, referring to an individual's internalized understanding of the collective attitudes, expectations, and perspectives of the broader society or community, which guides their behavior and self-conception.
In broader social psychology and philosophy, it represents the abstract composite of societal norms and viewpoints that a person uses to evaluate their own actions and thoughts from an imagined external standpoint.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally academic and specialized in both varieties. Slight preference for British English to hyphenate as 'generalised other' (following 'generalise'), but the noun phrase itself is standard.
Connotations
Purely academic and theoretical. Carries connotations of sociological analysis, identity formation, and social control.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of university-level social science textbooks, journals, and discussions. Essentially non-existent in general prose or speech.
Grammar
How to Use “generalized other” in a Sentence
[Subject] internalizes/incorporates/responds to the generalized other.The generalized other shapes/influences/guides [possessive] behavior/self.Behavior is judged/evaluated from the standpoint of the generalized other.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “generalized other” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The child's development of a 'me' is contingent upon forming a generalised other.
- Mead's theory posits the generalised other as crucial for self-consciousness.
American English
- The athlete felt constrained by the generalized other of professional sports culture.
- His research focused on how online communities create new forms of the generalized other.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in theories of socialisation, identity, and moral development. Example: 'Adolescent identity crisis often involves a conflict between personal desires and the demands of the generalized other.'
Everyday
Never used. Would be misunderstood.
Technical
Used precisely within sociological and social psychological discourse. Example: 'The development of the self, according to Mead, requires the individual to take on the attitude of the generalized other.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “generalized other”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “generalized other”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “generalized other”
- Using it to refer to a specific person or group ('My boss is like a generalized other to me').
- Treating it as a plural ('generalized others').
- Using it in non-academic contexts where 'social pressure' or 'norms' would be appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is an abstract, internalized concept representing the collective viewpoint of one's community or society, not any specific individual.
The term is central to the sociological theory of George Herbert Mead, a key figure in symbolic interactionism, though it was systematized by his students.
Social norms are the observable rules. The 'generalized other' is the psychological process by which an individual internalizes and uses those norms to evaluate themselves from an imagined external perspective.
Yes. As an individual moves between different social groups (e.g., family, work, online community), they may internalize different, sometimes conflicting, generalized others.
The concept, originating from George Herbert Mead's symbolic interactionism, referring to an individual's internalized understanding of the collective attitudes, expectations, and perspectives of the broader society or community, which guides their behavior and self-conception.
Generalized other is usually academic (primarily sociology, social psychology, philosophy, education) in register.
Generalized other: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒen.ər.ə.laɪzd ˈʌð.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒen.ər.ə.laɪzd ˈʌð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The GENERAL attitude I've taken from OTHERS' → GENERAL-IZED OTHER. It's not one specific person, but the generalised voice of society in your head.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS AN INTERNALIZED JUDGE/VOICE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'generalized other' primarily used?