Ch 1 Key Concepts Flashcards
Core identity
Core identity is a a psychosocial viewpoint in which individuals strive to achieve a core identity in relation to different aspects of self and as part of a community. It is thought as being continuous and being viewed as the same over time. Erikson & Marcia (both of the Psychosocial perspective) developed similar stage theories in which they suggest that adolescents go through a period of normative identity crises in which they resolve inner conflicts with those of social demands. By using semi structured interviews (qualitative method) Marcia established that young adults go through a normative process of commitment and exploration (identity crisis) in which they seek to commit to a particular identity. While core identity underlies psychosocial theory, it is debatable as it is not shared by other identity theories, as SC see identity as socially constructed and fluid, and SIT offers that identity is changeable through social mobility. The concept of core identity is important because it highlights how adolescents and young adults struggle with social demands and establish a unique healthy sense of self.
Embodiment
Embodiment is how people focus on their bodies not just as a vehicle but also as a source for identity, in terms of social, physical, biological and psychological (body projects F). This intimates that the body impacts how individuals understand themselves and others, by using the body as a resource to wear clothes, decoration and surgery to indicate involvement in particular social groups. Identity theories highlight the importance of embodiment - SIT focus on discrimination in relation to identity and physical impairments; social constructionist theories suggest that embodiment leads to constructing identity and Erikson’s psychosocial theory offers that embodiment is associated with stages of life and issues faced, such as physical implications of aging. The social model of disability suggests that those with physical impairments have limitations imposed on them by other people and environments, which is in line with social identity theory as it’s concern is intergroup discrimination. Begum demonstrated in an excerpt that she saw her identity as an active process in which she learned to manage other peoples constructions of her as atypical due to her impairment or skin color. This is important because it helps psychologists understand issues surrounding those with disabilities and people who are classed as being of an outgroup therefore potentially leading to prejudice or discrimination.
Social identity theory
From a experimental social psychology perspective
Tajfel focused on social identities and developed social identity theory. He suggested that people go through a process of identifying with a particular social group based on social categories such as race and gender and separating from others. In doing so, self esteem is boosted by a positive view of the group in which people belong, therefore minimalising those who are not in the group. Tajfel et al showed the significance of this effect in his experiment in which he used minimal groups participants identified with ingroups and developed a prejudice or discrimination against those in the outgroup. Due to power differences between groups, those in groups of low power seek to improve their status through social mobility, social creativity or social competition. The experimental social psychology perspective of identity was quite different from others such as psychosocial in which identity is focuses on the individual and the social constructionist viewpoint which suggests that identity is constructed through interactions and language. Criticized for trivializing social differences by using laboratory based experimental techniques.
Minimal group
Minimal groups is an experimental technique used by Tajfel in his social categorization experiment to study social identity theory. Boys were assigned to groups in which there is no true conflict of interest ie superficial, yet due to group membership this caused intergroup discrimination. Prejudice towards outgroups enhances in group positive social identity and increases self esteem as outgroups are considered inferior. This experimental technique produces robust findings yet oversimplifies complex social processes, trivializing social differences such as race and gender. Minimal groups are important because it provides evidence as to how prejudice and discrimination occur and possible implications of ways to reduce discrimination and prejudice.
Social constructionism
A theory in which the way people understand the world is constructed through social aspects and daily life; interactions, relationships, language, information throughout society such as media, books etc and is not just natural. Identity is actively constructed and fluid, changing in response to social changes and attitudes. This approach uses qualitative methods such as analyzing discourse. SC are interested in the influence of social and cultural context of perspectives. The importance of this perspective is that it illustrates that there are many different ways of understanding the same issue - a person could be constructed as a freedom fighter in one social aspect and another may suggest the same person is a terrorist. SC is an emerging perspective from the second cognitive revolution
