Self Categorisation and Intergroup Conflict

Question 1

What is Social Categorisation?

Answer 1

The process of categorising others into groups based on shared attributes such as race, gender, or age. This often involves stereotypes and can lead to distinguishing between ingroups and outgroups.

Question 2

What is Self Categorisation ?

Answer 2

Builds upon social categorisation but focuses on how individuals identify themselves within groups, shaping self-concept and behaviour according to group norms. This can lead to depersonalisation, where personal identity is replaced by group identity.

Question 3

What are prototypes?

Answer 3

Prototypes represent idealised group norms that define what a typical member should be like. These are not necessarily the average group member but embody the best representation of group norms. (Guide individual behaviour and set expectations for group members).

Question 4

Tell me about the Meta-contrast principle?

Answer 4

The meta-contrast Principle refers to maximising differences between groups and minimising differences within groups (It can lead to ingroup favouritism and outgroup derogation).

Question 5

Difference between prototypes and stereotypes

Answer 5

A prototype is a stereotype, only if it is shared by the group members

Question 6

What does identifying with a group bring about for individual group members?

Answer 6

Identifying with a group influences how individuals perceive themselves and others. It provides a sense of belonging and identity, which can enhance self-esteem and foster cooperation with group members.
However, group identification can also lead to ingroup bias, discrimination against outgroups, and potential conflict.

Question 7

What is Self Categorisation Theory (SCT) and prejudice

Answer 7

Highlights how people perceive their social world by categorising themselves and others into groups, affecting intergroup relations that can later lead to prejudice.
Prototypes guide perceptions and behaviours, contributing to the creation of stereotypes.

Question 8

Give me a study on the effects of multiple group memberships

Answer 8

Ysseldyk, Haslam, & Haslam (2013): Longitudinal data (n = 7021) on religious affiliation and wellbeing among older adults
Idea: maintaining a religious identity is good for you because it helps to maintain a range of other group memberships
Findings
Positive effects of religious identification on wellbeing over time (fewer depressive symptons)
Effects mediated by multiple group memberships

Question 9

What is Ingroup Projection ?

Answer 9

Ingroup Projection: Involves projecting ingroup attributes onto superordinate categories, such as nationality. - This can lead to bias as groups may claim to be the prototypical example of a superordinate category.

Question 10

Give me a study on ingroup projection:

Answer 10

Mummendey & Wenzel (1999); Wenzel et al. (2003)
Social categories are often hierarchically inclusive
European  German  East German
We compare IG & OG via the superordinate category
Discrimination starts when IG attributes are projected onto the superordinate category
Good (prototypical) Germans are West Germans!
“Relative ingroup prototypcality” as crucial moderator of ingroup bias
Both West Germans and East Germans can be good Germans (can be accommodated by the prototype)

Work on the prototype to escape prejudice…

Question 12

Give me positive aspects of social identity perspective

Answer 12

Positive: Offers a sense of belonging, group cohesion, and social support, fostering positive self-esteem and identity.

Question 13

Give me negative asepcts of social identity perspective

Answer 13

Negative: Can lead to discrimination and prejudice, affecting intergroup relations and causing societal issues.

Question 14

What is realistic Conflict theory ?

Answer 14

Sherif et al., (1961): Conflict can arise due to competition for limited resources, leading to discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes.

Question 15

Conflict between groups …

Answer 15

Works on a large scale
Can be perpetuated over generations
Spreads via prejudice and discrimination

Question 16

Tell me about the Doll Test

Answer 16

The Doll Test (Clark & Clark., 1939): Demonstrates the power of social categorisation in shaping self-perceptions, even among young children.
e..g them calling white dolls pretty and black dolls ugly even if they were black themselves

Question 17

Where does intergroup conflict start?

Answer 17

Psychological accounts of the factors that make an individual join in (or start) a conflict.
Therefore, individuals’ perceptions, feelings, beliefs regarding intergroup setting
Prejudice and discrimination as indicators of and precursors to acute conflict
Is it material conflict that’s necessary?

Question 18

What are the personality factors that link to conflict

Answer 18

Adorno et al. (1950) - Authoritarian personality
Subjected to harsh, arbitrary and parental authority
Intolerance towards out-groups, and lower status.
Measured by the “F-Scale” (see measures of prejudice and racism)
Belief Congruence theory (Rokeach., 1960): Individuals are more likely to form and maintain close relationships with those who share similar beliefs, values, and attitudes.

Question 19

What are the effects of mutliple group memberships ?

Answer 19

Ysseldyk, Haslam, and Haslman., (2013) found that being part of multiple groups, including religious groups, can improve well-being and mental health.- Multiple group memberships can offer social support and a sense of community.

Question 20

What is belief congruence theory?

Answer 20

What is a belief? – Psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.

Rokeach (1960) - Belief congruence theory

People like others when their beliefs are similar, they even validate the belief.
Beliefs can anchor an individual
Clash of beliefs between groups
Leads to perceived threat of the ingroup’s value system
Prejudice fuels perceived threat.

Model operates on an individual level: it’s all about my own beliefs and values…

Question 20

Evaluation of F scale

Answer 20

Elms & Milgram (1966)
Obedient participants in study scored higher on F –scale compared to disobedient

Middendorp and Meleon (1990)
Less-educated people are more likely to display authoritarian personality characteristics

Question 21

What is realistic conflict theory ?

Sherif et al., 1961

Answer 21

“Realist” theory: conflict arises between groups due to actual need for resources.

Two groups seeking limited resources – discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes
Superordinate goals – mutually-desirable goals
Perceived conflict – are immigrants taking jobs?
Zero-sum fate- one side gains, someone looses

Group outcomes are linked to individual outcomes
If my group does well so do I
If my group competes over resources with another group so do I

Question 22

Tell me about Robbers cave study

Answer 22

Sherif 1954
Setting: The study was conducted at a summer camp with 22 boys who were divided into two groups.
Stages:
Ingroup Formation: Each group was isolated and engaged in bonding activities to foster group identity.
**Friction Phase: **The two groups were introduced to each other and competed in various activities, leading to intergroup conflict and hostility.
Integration Phase: Efforts were made to reduce tension through activities that required intergroup cooperation.
Key Findings
Group Formation and Identity:
Individuals quickly form strong in-group identities.
Being part of a group enhances self-worth and motivates individuals to seek membership in and loyalty to the group.

Intergroup Conflict:
Competition between groups leads to increased in-group solidarity and out-group hostility.
Individuals become highly invested in their group’s success and reputation.

Conflict Resolution:
Introducing superordinate goals that require cooperation between groups can reduce intergroup hostility and promote harmony.
Implications
The consequences observed in these studies align with social identity theory and realistic conflict theory:

**Social Identity Theory: **Emphasizes the importance of group membership in enhancing self-esteem and shaping one’s identity.
Realistic Conflict Theory: Suggests that intergroup conflict arises from competition over limited resources, and cooperation towards common goals can reduce conflict.

Overall, the Robbers Cave Experiment and similar studies provide valuable insights into how group dynamics operate, the nature of intergroup conflict, and strategies for conflict resolution.

Question 23

Social Identity theory of conflict

Answer 23

(Tajfel & Turner, 1979)
Mere group membership can drive competition and conflict
No individual profit etc. at stake!
Model operates entirely on group level
Empirically embodied in the minimal group paradigm

Question 24

Give me the case study of The Holocaust

Answer 24

Between 1933 – 1945
Six Million Jews killed by the Nazi German Regime and its collaborators.
Falsely accused Jews of causing Germany’s social, economic, political, and cultural problems AND the defeat of WW1.
Antisemitism dates back to middle ages (500-1400) and early modern Europe (1400-1800) and is rooted in religion from Christian perspective.
Additional subgroups of antisemitism formed in 18th and 19th century, economic, nationalist and racial antisemitism.
Nazi prejudice drew on all arguments, but especially racial- deeming Jews to be an inferior race.

Question 25

Give me a stuyd for forgiveness and level of categorisation

Answer 25

Wohl & Branscombe (2005)
Participant: US-American Jews and their views on the Holocaust
Collective guilt assignment and willingness to forgive
“an event in which Germans behaved aggressively toward Jews” vs. “an event in which humans behaved aggressively toward humans”
Assign less collective guilt and more willing to forgive in the inclusive Superordinate category (HUMANS)…….
But only when genocide is perceived as being pervasive human behaviour

Question 26

Self – Categorisation Model (Turner et al., 1987)

Answer 26

Emphasises how individuals categorise themselves and others, impacting group dynamics and intergroup relations.By focusing on shared identities and inclusive superordinate categories, we can potentially mitigate conflicts and promote harmony.

Personal = Perceiving the differences of the self to ingroup members
Social = Perceiving the self as an ingroup member and the differences between ingroup and outgroup
Human = Perceiving the self as another human to different to nonhumans.