Tajfel (1970) Social Identity Theory Study

Question 1

Describe the participants.

Answer 1

64 adolescent boys from a Bristol comprehensive school.

Question 2

How were the PPS put into groups?

Answer 2

Places into groups according to minimal criteria- whether when estimating the number of dots on a screen, they were under or over-estimators or, whether they liked the same paintings (Klee or Kandinsky). BUT IN REALITY they were placed in groups entirely randomly. This is so that the PPS thought what they had in common was minimal.

Question 3

What did the groups have to do?

Answer 3

They had to allocate rewards, done by a matrix between both groups. The choice of number set in each matrix demonstrated whether each boy rewarded their own group of the other group, penalised their own or other group, or showed fairness to both groups.

Question 4

What was competition like?

Answer 4

There was no direct competition between the 2 groups. What members thought they had in common was minimal (liking the same painting, being an under/ over estimator).

Question 5

What happened with rewards in the groups?

Answer 5

The PPS constantly rewarded their own group, ignoring the fair alternative, therefore demonstrating in-group favouritism, regardless of the fact that the PPS had no idea who was in their group or the other group. The PPS even failed to maximise their own profit in order to ensure that the other group was sufficiently penalised.

Question 6

What were the members in both groups prepared to do?

Answer 6

Discriminate in favour of the member of their particular group; presumably because this increased their own social standing/ self esteem by the process of social comparison.

Question 7

What was the most popular points matrix and what did it mean?

Answer 7

Klee- 19
Kandinsky- 21
Maximise in-group profit.

Question 8

What was the 2nd most popular points matrix and what did it mean?

Answer 8

Klee- 7
Kandinsky- 1
Maximise difference.

Question 9

What was the remaining 2 points matrix and what do they mean?

Answer 9

Klee- 13
Kandinsky- 13
Maximise fairness.

Klee- 17
Kandinsky- 25
Maximise points.

Question 10

Why did the groups chose certain things?

Answer 10

PPS overwhelmingly chose to favour their own group by allocating more points to members of their own group, but also favoured maximising difference in favour of the in-group, even though this meant their group achieved fewer points overall & so less chance of a prize.

Question 11

People are thus prepared to discriminate..

Answer 11

Even before competition between groups is introduced.