Final answer:
George Herbert Mead theorized that the mind and self develop through social interaction, starting from imitation in infancy to adopting roles and eventually integrating perspectives of the generalized other to form a self.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to George Herbert Mead, the mind and the self arise through a developmental process that involves social interaction. Mead posited that infants begin their journey without a self, in a phase he called the preparatory stage, characterized by imitation without comprehension of others' perspectives. As they grow, they enter the play stage, where they start to understand and adopt the roles of significant others around them, such as parents, by acting out behaviors they observe.
Eventually, individuals develop the full concept of self once they can view themselves from the perspectives of generalized others, which represents the attitudes and viewpoints of their larger social group. Mead's work underlines the importance of society and social interactions in the development of the self, indicating that it is not an innate attribute but rather one constructed through engaging with others and assuming various social roles.