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Generalized other
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<p>The generalized other is a concept introduced by <a href="/facts/George_Herbert_Mead/fUTU8x6w">George Herbert Mead</a> into the <a href="/facts/Social_sciences/hAbm1xtD">social sciences</a>, and used especially in the field of <a href="/facts/Symbolic_interactionism/VXUoDQ6T">symbolic interactionism</a>. 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. </p><p>Any time that an actor tries to imagine what is expected of them, they are taking on the perspective of the generalized other. </p><p>An alternative name of the mentally constructed idea of who an audience is without real or complete insight is imagined audience. </p>