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Social Identity Theory

Social Identity Theory. Make a chart, listing whom you would consider “us” to be, as well as who you would say is definitely not “us” (AKA “them”). In other words, which groups DO you belong to and which groups DON’T you belong to?. Explain what you think “social identity” means.

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Social Identity Theory

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  1. Social Identity Theory

  2. Make a chart, listing whom you would consider “us” to be, as well as who you would say is definitely not “us” (AKA “them”). In other words, which groups DO you belong to and which groups DON’T you belong to?

  3. Explain what you think “social identity” means. • Think about the two words individually before considering them as a unit.

  4. According to Henri Tajfel, social identity is a person’s sense of who he or she is based on group membership(s). • Tajfel proposed that the groups (i.e. social class, family, team, etc.) which people belonged to were an important source of pride and self-esteem.  Groups give us a sense of social identity: a sense of belonging to the social world (aka “society”).

  5. Therefore, we divide the world into “them” and “us” based social categorization; we actually put people into social groups. • This is known as in-group (us) and out-group (them).  Social identity theory states that the in-group will discriminate against the out-group to enhance their own self-image.

  6. Henri Tajfel proposed that stereotyping (i.e. putting people into groups and categories) is based on a normal cognitive process: the tendency to group things together. In doing so we tend to exaggerate both the differencesbetween groups as well as the similaritiesof things in the same group.

  7. We categorize people in the same way. We see the group to which we belong (the in-group) as being different from the others (the out-group), and members of the same group as being more similar to each other than they really are. • Social categorization is one explanation for prejudice (i.e. “them” and “us” mentality).

  8. Examples of “in-groups” and “out-groups”: • Democrats and Republicans • male and female • upper class and lower class • young and old • What other examples can you come up with? • (Greasers and Socs!)

  9. We find out things about ourselves by knowing what categories we belong to.  • We define appropriate behavior by reference to the norms of groups we belong to, but we can only do this if we can tell who belongs to our group. • An individual can belong to many different groups.

  10. Henri Tajfel and John Turner proposed that there are THREE mental processes involved in evaluating others as “us” or “them”.

  11. 1. Social Categorization • We categorize objects in order to identify them: table car house • In a very similar way, we categorize people in order to understand the social environment: student teacher American mechanic

  12. 1. Social Categorization • Categories are often broad and contain stereotypes, but we need them in order to function in the world. • For example, if there’s a medical emergency, we would want to know if there was a doctor that could help us. • Similarly, if there was a crime committed, we would look for a policeman. • People understand themselves by deciding/knowing the groups to which they belong.

  13. 2. Social Identification • In the second stage of this process, we adopt the identity of the group we have categorized ourselves as belonging to.

  14. 2. Social Identification • If, for example, you have categorized yourself as a student, chances are you will adopt the identity of a student and act the way you believe students act. This is called conforming to the norms of the group. • There will be an emotional significance to your identification with a group, and your self-esteem will become bound up with group membership.

  15. 3. Social Comparison • Once we have categorized ourselves as part of a group and have identified with that group, we then tend to compare that group with other groups.

  16. 3. Social Comparison • If our self-esteem is to be maintained, our group needs to compare favorably with other groups. • This is critical to understanding prejudice, because once two groups identify themselves as rivals, they are forced to compete in order for the members to maintain their self-esteem.

  17. In conclusion . . . • Group membership is not a bad thing in itself. . . it’s a necessary part of living in society. • What good things can come from identifying with a group? • What problems sometimes develop between “in” groups and “out” groups?

  18. Works Cited • http://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html

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