LG 7: Social Identity Flashcards
Name and explain two types on which basis people can be assigned to a category.
Social categorization is the cognitive partitioning of the social world into relatively discreate categories of individuals.
- By assigning others to categories we can interpreted their behavior and respond appropriately.
We can assign people into a category based on:
- Prototype: which is a social category member who is belived to processs the typical feature of the social category. Often abstraction.
- Exemplar: category members that one has encountered.
What is the accentuation effect?
The accentuation effect is a tendency to exaggerate similarities within categories and differences between categories.
- The goal is a clear distinction between members of different categories.
- When category boundaries are not clear cut but important we tend to perceive those who lean slightly to one category as more similar.
Accentuation of similarities between my and other members of my category may lead to self-stereotyping
What is the outgroup homogeneity effect?
The outgroup homogeneity effect is a tendency to perceive and cognitively represent the members of an outgroup as very similar to one another as being “all the same”.
- “those are alike; we are diverse”.
Can be a consequence of the accentuation effect.
What is the difference between the social identity versus the personal identity?
Social identity:
- is that part of our self-definition that derives from our membership of social groups.
- What groups do you belong to?
Personal identity:
- part of our self-definition that derives from unique, peculiar, idiosyncratic characteristics.
- It is the part that makes us unique. Who are you and what differs you from your group.
- What make you unique?
What are the three basic processes described by social identity theory.
The social identity theory is a theory accredited to Tajfel and Turner, which is based on the assumption that people belong to social groups and derive a social identity from these groups. According to the theory we derive much of our self-esteem from our social identity and when social identity is not satisfactory, we may presume a number of strategies to improve it. The theory contains three basic processes:
1. Social categorization:
- Consequences: intragroup assimilation and intergroup diffentiation.
- Social identification: whether you are seen as a member of the group
- Social comparisons: status of your group influences your self-esteem (and you mightbecome comparative)
What are the self-esteem hypothesis (Abrams & Hogg, 1988)?
Discrimination of outgroup members to enhance own self-esteem.
Explain the black sheep effect.
The book: The black sheep effect is the tendency to criticize and derogate more harshly than members of an outgroup on the members of an ingroup who deviate from the group norms.
A better explanation:
- the tendency to derogate ingroup deviant members in order to reinforce ingroup boundaries and stress normative and counter-normative behavior
- Deviance can define the normative criteria for group membership functional for social identity
List possible reactions of people who are against their will seen as only peripheral group members.
When group members are seen as peripheral against their will, this leads to more anxiety and reduces confidence
- Increased conformity to ingroup standards
- Increased derogation of non-prototypical members
- Increased praise of prototypical members
- Increased derogation of outgroup members
List and describe different motives related to social identity.
There are several different motives related to social identity:
The self-esteem motive:
The motive of belong:
The motive to achieve symbolic immortality
The distinctiveness motive
