Social identity theory Flashcards
For SAQ
What is Social Identity Theory?
A theory proposed by Tajfel and Turner in 1971 that explains how individuals create and maintain their social identity through group membership.
Who proposed Social Identity Theory?
Tajfel and Turner
What year was Social Identity Theory proposed?
1971
What is the main premise of Social Identity Theory?
A person’s sense of self is based on their group memberships, which can be a source of pride and self-esteem.
List the key components of Social Identity Theory.
- Social categorisation
- Social identification
- Social comparison
- Positive distinctiveness
What does social categorisation involve?
Dividing the social environment into in-groups (us) and out-groups (them).
Define social identification in the context of Social Identity Theory.
Adopting the identity of the group we categorize ourselves as belonging to.
What is social comparison?
Comparing our in-group with out-groups to maintain our self-esteem.
Explain positive distinctiveness.
Striving to achieve a positive sense of identity by favouring our in-group over our out-groups.
What was the aim of the study conducted by Cialdini et al. in 1976?
To investigate the role of social identity in self-esteem.
What method did Cialdini et al. use in their 1976 study?
Observations and interviews with fans from large, prestigious U.S. football universities.
What did researchers observe about students’ clothing after a football match?
Students wore more university-related apparel when their football team won compared to when they lost.
What pronouns did students use when describing their team’s performance after a win?
First-person pronouns (e.g., ‘We played a great game’).
What pronouns did students use when describing their team’s performance after a loss?
Third-person pronouns (e.g., ‘They didn’t play well as a team’).
What conclusion was drawn from Cialdini et al.’s study?
Social identity plays an important role in self-esteem, and individuals are biased towards their own group.
True or False: The study by Cialdini et al. showed individuals tend to associate with their group when it is successful.
True
What does Social Identity Theory explain about group discrimination?
It explains how and why individuals identify with certain groups and discriminate against others.
Fill in the blank: Social Identity Theory suggests that individuals strive to improve their self-image by enhancing their self-esteem through _______.
[personal or social identities]
What psychological mechanism do individuals use to cope with group failure, according to the study?
Creating psychological distance from the group.
What does a positive self-concept result in, as per the study’s findings?
A bias where individuals are more positive toward anything that represents their own group.
