The social self, according to the theory of George Herbert Mead, is the basis of self-consciousness and personal identity in human individuals, which emerges and develops through social interaction and the internalisation of others' perspectives and attitudes towards oneself. Mead argued that the self is not an innate characteristic but is socially constructed through a process of taking the role of the other, initially significant others like family members, and eventually the generalised other, representing the broader societal norms and expectations. Through these interactions, individuals develop a sense of who they are as distinct from others by seeing themselves reflected in the reactions and evaluations of those around them, leading to self-awareness and the ability to think about oneself as an object.