The 'I,' the 'Me,' and the 'It': Moving Beyond the Meadian Conception of Self

Abstract

While the structure of subjective experience has been a topic of considerable theoretical discussion within symbolic interactionism and phenomenological sociology, until recently little empirical work has been done on this topic. We examine the experience of stuttering as the basis for a conception of the stutterer's self as an interaction between an I, a Me, and an It. The It is conceived as both the basis for a stutterer's identity and as an autonomous source of action which interrupts speech. This suggests that the locus of action or agency within the self be reconceived and that greater attention be given to the dialectical process through which lived experience and culture shape each other. Besides stuttering, this formulation can potentially shed light on experiences of self associated with phenomena such as addiction, neurological disorders, multiple personalities, and spirit possession.