Social Identity Theory

Question 1

What is a self concept?

Answer 1

Our self concept is a sense of who we are and is made up of many social identities.

Question 2

What is a personal identity?

Answer 2

A personal identity is based on personal characteristics unique to the individual

Question 3

What is social identity?

Answer 3

Social identity is an image based on the attributes of the group or groups to which we belong to

Question 4

What is social categorisation?

Answer 4

Is the process of categorising yourself and others into differentiated groups. Classified groups as either in-group or out-group.

Question 5

In-group

Answer 5

One we belong to “like me” “us”

Question 6

Out-group

Answer 6

Another group we do not belong to “not like me” “them”

Question 7

What is social identification?

Answer 7

Social identification involves the individual adopting the beliefs, values and attitudes of groups to which they see themselves belonging to

Question 8

What is social comparison?

Answer 8

We do this in order to raise the positive attributes of the in-group so that we have a positive social identity. This then enhances out personal identity and increases our self-esteem.

Two processes we use to achieve this:
In-group favouritism
Negative out-group bias

Question 9

In-group favouritism

Answer 9

This is the tendency for group members to see the individuals within their group as unique and different (in-group hetogeneity bias) and in favourable light.

Question 10

Negative out-group bias

Answer 10

This is the tendency to view members of the out-group as all the same (out-group homogeneity bias) and in an unfavourable lights.