Tony is five years of age. He loves to dress up like the Lone Ranger and pretend to help people in need. According to Mead's theory, what stage best describes Tony's behavior?
A. The imitation stage
B. The game stage
C. The play stage
D. The fantasy stage
D
it is C
According to Mead's theory, the stage that best describes Tony's behavior is the fantasy stage (D). In this stage, children engage in imaginative play and create their own pretend scenarios, such as dressing up like the Lone Ranger and pretending to help people in need.
To determine the answer to this question, we can first familiarize ourselves with Mead's theory of social development. Mead described three stages of social development: the imitation stage, the play stage, and the game stage.
In the imitation stage, which typically occurs between birth and the age of three, children observe and mimic the behavior of those around them. During this stage, children are focused on imitating the actions of others without understanding the meaning behind those actions.
In the play stage, which usually occurs between the ages of three and five, children engage in imaginative play and role-playing activities. They begin to understand and imitate the discourse of others, taking on different roles and engaging in make-believe scenarios.
The game stage, which usually occurs around the age of six or seven, is characterized by more complex social interactions. Children learn to take on multiple roles simultaneously and understand the interdependence of these roles within a specific social context.
From the given information about Tony, who is five years old and enjoys dressing up like the Lone Ranger and pretending to help people in need, it can be inferred that his behavior aligns more closely with the play stage. In this stage, children engage in imaginative play and assume different roles, such as pretending to be a hero or helper.
Therefore, the answer to the question is C. The play stage.