Editing Generalized other (section)

{{Short description|Social science concept}}
The '''generalized other''' is a concept introduced by [[George Herbert Mead]] into the [[social sciences]], and used especially in the field of [[symbolic interactionism]]. It is the general notion that a person has of the common expectations that others may have about actions and thoughts within a particular society, and thus serves to clarify their relation to the other as a representative member of a shared social system.<ref>John O'Neill, ''Sociology as a Skin Trade'' (London 1972) p. 169</ref>

Any time that an actor tries to imagine what is expected of them, they are taking on the perspective of the generalized other.

An alternative name of the mentally constructed idea of who an audience is without real or complete insight is '''imagined audience'''.