social identity theory Flashcards
social identity theory
Social identity theory is the idea that our behaviour motivated by your social identity.
A persons self-image is motivated by two components – personal identity and social identity.
Personal identity is based on ones characteristics and achievements.
Social identity is determined by the various groups of people to which you belong (ingroups).
social groups - P1, A01
According to Tajfel and Turner, our self-concept (sense of who we are) is made up of many identities.
These identities are linked to the social groups which we belong.
Social identity theory suggests that humans have a strong desire to belong and that we derive self-esteem through group membership and the acceptance of others.
Much of our social behaviour is driven by motivation to maintain a positive sense of self as a value member of ‘the group’.
Weakness of social groups - P1, A03
One weakness of using social identity theory to explain prejudice is that it may only explain intergroup behaviour in western cultures.
Wetherell replicated Tajfel’s study in 1982 with either year old school children in New Zealand.
Indigenous Polynesian children were significantly more generous allocating points to outgroups than their white New Zealand class mates.
Therefore, this means that this suggests that social identity theory may be ethnocentric because it fails to predict behaviour of people from collectivist backgrounds and may not apply to minority groups.
social categorisation - P2, A01
Social categorisation refers to the separation of individuals into the ingroup (such as ‘me’ or ‘us’) or the outgroup (such as ‘not me’ or ‘them).
Tajfel and Turner argued that categorisation is a basic characteristic of human thought and we have little control over whether we are in the ingroup or the outgroup.
It can be argued that the existence of being placed in the outgroup can bring about prejudice and discrimination between the ingroup and the outgroup.
strength of social categorisation - P2, A03
One strength of using social identity theory is that there is study evidence support from the minimal group experiment in Tajfel’s study, Tajfel told boys which other behaved like them (ingroup) and who did not behave like them (outgroup) in the tasks where they chose which painting they liked.
The boys later gave points to each other.
More points were given to ingroup than outgroup members and the difference in ingroup/outgroup points was maximised even if this reduced the total amount for the ingroup.
Therefore, this means that there is study evidence which shows how social categorisation is enough to trigger ingroup favouritism and discrimination against the outgroup.
COUNTER ARGUMENT TO strength of social categorisation - P2, A03
However, although this study appears to support social identity theory, the task of privately allocating points lacks mundane realism.
In real life, we may be less discriminatory as there may be unpleasant social consequences of such actions. Discrimination is rarely this covert which makes the study lack ecological validity.
Therefore this means that because the study lacks mundane realism, the findings of the study of social categorisation is enough to trigger ingroup favouritism and discrimination against the out group may not be generalisable to the rest of the world.
social identification - P3, A01
Social identification is when an individual adopts the beliefs, values and attitudes of the groups to which they see themselves belonging.
Individuals will also alter their behaviour to fit with the typical behaviours and attitudes of the ingroup.
Social identification also involves a shift in a person’s thinking and self-concept as a new social identity is formed
social comparison - P4, A01
Social comparison is when an individual boosts their self-esteem through making comparisons between the ingroup and outgroup.
The outcomes of these affect our self-esteem, so the comparison are not objective.
If ingroup members are seen as better, then as an ingroup member, we must also be better (this is seen as the quest for positive distinctiveness) .
We are therefore, motivated to perceive our group in a positive light and could see the outgroup in unfavourable terms.
These cognitive processes may lead to discrimination between the ingroup and outgroup, meaning we may think about and treat outgroup members differently.
strength of social comparison - P4, A03
One strength of using social identity theory as an explanation of prejudice is that it provides testable suggestions about reducing prejudice.
Fein and Spencer manipulated students’ self-esteem with false feedback on an IQ test.
Students who now had low self-esteem later rated Jewish job applicants less favourably than an Italian applicant.
In a second study, self-esteem was increased by asking students to write about something they valued – this reduced anti-Jewish prejudice.
Therefore, this means that social identity theory suggests that prejudice could be reduced in society by implementing policies which target low self-esteem.
