Social Identity Theory

Question 1

what does SIT suggest causes prejudice?

Answer 1

the formation of groups

Question 2

what is the first stage of group formation?

Answer 2

social categorisation

- seeing yourself as in the ingroup

Question 3

what is the second stage of group formation?

Answer 3

social identification

- adopting group behaviours

Question 4

what are the two types of social comparison?

Answer 4

negative out-group bias
- putting down other groups
in group favouritism
- viewing own group more positively

Question 5

how does sherif support SIT?

Answer 5

categorisation - rattlers / eagles
identification - mottos / attitudes
comparison - neg. our group bias “sneaks” “stinkers”

Question 6

who did the blue eye brown eye study, and what did they find?

Answer 6

jane elliot

- students adopted behaviours of their own groups (blue eyes believed themselves to be more intelligent)

Question 7

how is this theory useful?

Answer 7

not allowing football fans to wear strips for their team in order to prevent identification

Question 8

why is RCT more holistic?

Answer 8

• considers factor of competition to intensify prejudice

- suggests how to reduce prejudice

Question 9

why does sherif conflict this theory?

Answer 9

• the breakdown of groups didn’t alleviate prejudice

- presence of competition