Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game

Social interactions shape self-development as children learn to adjust their actions based on others' feedback.

George Herbert Mead identified two stages of social development in children that contribute to the emergence of the self—the play stage and the game stage—each involving distinct role-taking.

In the play stage, young children imitate the activities of individuals around them and learn to organize these activities into meaningful roles like nurses or police officers.

Children may use imagination to teach and set rules for their toys.

At this stage, roles are seen in simple, paired categories, such as good guy and bad guy, overlooking that an individual can hold multiple roles simultaneously, like a teacher who is also a parent or a customer.

At the game stage, children engage in structured activities such as games of house, school, and team sports, requiring interpersonal coordination as roles become more distinct.

Children learn to consider the perspectives of multiple others simultaneously.

For instance, a basketball player must understand the roles of teammates and opponents while making decisions about passing or shooting.