social identity theory and group processes Flashcards
social identity approach is different from social identity theory… true or false?
TRUE
Our self-esteem derives from
our personal identity and the status and accomplishments of the various groups to which we belong.
in-group favouritism?
by ensuring we feel good about our in-group, we ensure we feel good about ourselves. we look for positives in our in group and that makes us feel good and that often leads too ETHNOCENTRISM
ethnocentrism?
the evaluation of other cultures/groups according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of ones own culture/groups.
ethno =
culture
briefly explain the minimal group paradigm?
people will tend to reduce the benefit to the ingroup if it means maximizing the detriment to the outgroup.
being able to exercise ingroup favouritism led to…
higher self-esteem measures.
explain the minimal group paradigm…
even when there were opportunities for equal distribution of points/pennies, participants often picked less for the ingroup if it meant substantially less also for the outgroup.
numerous repetitions have shown a bias for preferring …
relative gain over the outgroup versus ABSOLUTE GAIN for the ingroup.
competition triumphs over….
cooperation, even when the groups formed are meaningless and individual members lack group identity investment < obvious consequences for groups where investments in group memberships are high.
identify 3 main strategies to improve your ingroup’s status ( if you are in a stigmatized / low status group)
social competition, social creativity, social mobility.
social competition?
directly challenging an outgroups higher status position < common in sport competitions ( especially those involving violence, can elevate physiological arousal, potentially setting the stage for transforming hostile inclinations into aggressive behaviour)
social creativity?
re-defining the relevance of particular comparators, asserting ‘alternative’ dimensions of comparison as being important. OR. subdividing the devalued group to create a subgroup (excluding the self), which is more deserving of the devaluation than the group as a whole.
social mobility?
group boundries: permeable or impermeable, stable or unstable ( is there an opportunity to move to another group?) < separating from the group to move to a higher status group < abstratct psychological distancing ( reduced levels of investment ect)
social mobility is….
an individual level strategy > leaving a socially undesirable or stigmatized group in favour of a higher status group
with reference to social mobility, social identity theory predicts…..
social mobility is only possible where group boundries are permeable ( ie- it is feasible to change group membership) < if boundries are impermeable, individuals are more likely to employ strategies which improve the social value of their whole group < SUCH AS SOCIAL CREATIVITY.
social mobility and social creativity are thought to be…
MUTALLY EXCLUSIVE STRATEGIES (PRINT OFF CHARLIE PAGES AND INSERT HERE)
if the status boundries are impermeable and the status relations are stable, according to SIT… you should
adopt a social creativity strategy ( redefining the relevance of particular comparators, asserting alternative dimensions of comparison as being important or sub-dividing the devalued group to create a subgroup which is more deserving of the devaluation than the group as a whole.
stories…..
can be valuable and add to our understanding of the theory, pivotal tools for communicating existing ideas and critically testing the boundries of our existing knowledge
for stories to be valuable, they need to be
ANOMALOUS AND IMMUTABLE
stories need too….
demonstrate some form of everyday life that is not currently explained by the theoretical modelling, they have to test boundries of theories by being sufficiently detailed and context specific < STORIES CAN BE SCIENCE IF THEY ARE DONE IN A PARTICULAR WAY
adolf Eichmann…
oversaw logistics of holocaust during WW2 < tyrant, the banality of evil.
groups and power are the root of…
TYRANNY < avoid them because their corrupting influence is irresistible
Stanford prison brough to a close…
PREMATURELY after 6 days due to guards brutality and fear for prisonners well-being
what was the theoretical impact of the Stanford prison experiment?
the predominance of the ‘role’ account of oppression
the impact of the methodological and ethical Stanford prison experiment…
changes that meant similar studies could not be attempted again.
what actually happened in the Stanford prison experiment?
prisoners didn’t passively accept their role: importance of resistance, several incidinces of resistances (was not a passive acceptance) : guards did not passively accept their role ( importance of Zimbardo)
Zimbardo fraimed from the start cruelty, oppression and unequal power structure between the 2 groups…
true
tyranny =
abuse of authority, absolute ruler, unrestrained exercise of power
identify moral problems of the role account?
it suggests that any of us would resort mindlessly to violence if this appeared to be demanded by our role.
by denying human agency > it also excuses anyone who might take on the role of tyrant, bully or thug.
it makes resistance appear futile, BUT > it probably had more impact on the public consciousness, than any other pieces of social psychological research
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BBC PRISON STUDY SLIDE ON ONE NOTE
