Generalized other

Have you ever played a game where you pretend to be someone else or act out a situation? Well, imagine if everyone in the game knew how to act or behave in a certain way. That way of acting or behaving is called the general way, or generalized other.

In real life, the generalized other is like a set of rules or expectations that people follow without even realizing it. It's like a big group of people who all know how to act or behave in certain situations. For example, think about when you go to school. You know what's expected of you in class, during recess, and when you're talking to your teacher. All of those things are part of the generalized other that you're expected to follow.

The generalized other is important because it helps you know how to behave in new situations. It's like having a script to follow so that you don't have to worry about doing something wrong or embarrassing. And it's not just for kids, adults also follow the generalized other in different situations like at work or in social settings.

So, the next time you're playing a game or in a new situation, remember that there's a generalized other that you should follow to make sure you act appropriately.