Final answer:
George Herbert Mead outlined the development of the self through stages including the preparatory, play, game, and the understanding of the generalized other, all of which are fundamental for self-awareness and societal participation.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Herbert Mead proposed that the self develops through several stages that are critical to the formation of the human identity through social interaction. The preparatory stage marks the infancy of the self, where children engage in imitation without an understanding of how others see the world. This is followed by the play stage, where children start taking on the roles of significant individuals in their lives, experimenting with their perspectives.
In the game stage, children grapple with multiple roles and the expectations associated with them, aiding in their ability to consider society's perspectives. Lastly, development of the generalized other occurs, where children synthesize behavioral expectations of society at large, enabling them to view themselves as a member of a broader community and thus possessing a 'self'. The absence of social interactions, like in the case study of Danielle, indicates the essential role of these interactions in developing the self.
In sum, each stage outlined by Mead involves a more complex understanding of others, which is instrumental in developing the self-concept. This contributes not only to self-awareness but also to the individual's ability to function within society.