social identity theory and group processes

Question 1

social identity approach is different from social identity theory… true or false?

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

Our self-esteem derives from

Answer 2

our personal identity and the status and accomplishments of the various groups to which we belong.

Question 3

in-group favouritism?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

ethnocentrism?

Answer 4

the evaluation of other cultures/groups according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of ones own culture/groups.

Question 5

ethno =

Answer 5

culture

Question 6

briefly explain the minimal group paradigm?

Answer 6

people will tend to reduce the benefit to the ingroup if it means maximizing the detriment to the outgroup.

Question 7

being able to exercise ingroup favouritism led to…

Answer 7

higher self-esteem measures.

Question 8

explain the minimal group paradigm…

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

numerous repetitions have shown a bias for preferring …

Answer 9

relative gain over the outgroup versus ABSOLUTE GAIN for the ingroup.

Question 10

competition triumphs over….

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

identify 3 main strategies to improve your ingroup’s status ( if you are in a stigmatized / low status group)

Answer 11

social competition, social creativity, social mobility.

Question 12

social competition?

Answer 12

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)

Question 13

social creativity?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

social mobility?

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

social mobility is….

Answer 15

an individual level strategy > leaving a socially undesirable or stigmatized group in favour of a higher status group

Question 16

with reference to social mobility, social identity theory predicts…..

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

social mobility and social creativity are thought to be…

Answer 17

MUTALLY EXCLUSIVE STRATEGIES (PRINT OFF CHARLIE PAGES AND INSERT HERE)

Question 18

if the status boundries are impermeable and the status relations are stable, according to SIT… you should

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

stories…..

Answer 19

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

Question 20

for stories to be valuable, they need to be

Answer 20

ANOMALOUS AND IMMUTABLE

Question 21

stories need too….

Answer 21

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

Question 22

adolf Eichmann…

Answer 22

oversaw logistics of holocaust during WW2 < tyrant, the banality of evil.

Question 23

groups and power are the root of…

Answer 23

TYRANNY < avoid them because their corrupting influence is irresistible

Question 24

Stanford prison brough to a close…

Answer 24

PREMATURELY after 6 days due to guards brutality and fear for prisonners well-being

Question 25

what was the theoretical impact of the Stanford prison experiment?

Answer 25

the predominance of the ‘role’ account of oppression

Question 26

the impact of the methodological and ethical Stanford prison experiment…

Answer 26

changes that meant similar studies could not be attempted again.

Question 27

what actually happened in the Stanford prison experiment?

Answer 27

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)

Question 28

Zimbardo fraimed from the start cruelty, oppression and unequal power structure between the 2 groups…

Answer 28

true

Question 29

tyranny =

Answer 29

abuse of authority, absolute ruler, unrestrained exercise of power

Question 30

identify moral problems of the role account?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

PRINT OUT OR CHECK

Answer 31

BBC PRISON STUDY SLIDE ON ONE NOTE