Patrick isn't old enough to go to school yet, but he loves to play house. He has a toy stove and pretends to be a stay-at-home father. Playing house sometimes gets boring, so he goes outside, takes a garden hose, and pretends to be a firefighter. George Herbert Mead would say that Patrick is
A) in the play stage.
B) in the game stage.
C) her own generalized other.
D) aware of the roles of others.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to George Herbert Mead's theory of symbolic interactionism, children develop their sense of self through play, starting in the play stage. During this stage, they engage in imaginative play and take on different roles, such as pretending to be a stay-at-home father or a firefighter. Patrick's behavior suggests that he is in the play stage, where he is developing his understanding of social roles and norms through his play activities.

Patrick Isn't Old Enough to Go to School Yet, but He