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Generalized other

The generalized other is a concept used in the social sciences, especially in a field called symbolic interactionism. It is the general notion that a person has of the common expectations that others have about actions and thoughts within a particular society. Any time that an actor tries to imagine what is expected of them, they are taking on the perspective of the generalized other.

As a concept, it is roughly equivalent to the idea of the Freudian superego.



Last updated: 03-18-2005 11:16:12