Social identity theory proposed by Tajfel and Turner (1986) suggests that
individuals experience collective identity based on their membership in a group
, such as racial/ethnic and gender identities.
Social identity theory (SIT) provides
a framework for explaining intergroup behavior and intergroup communication based on the inherent value humans place on social group memberships, and their desire to view their specific social groups in a positive light
. This desire can lead to intergroup prejudice and conflict.
Social identity theory proposed by Tajfel and Turner (1986) suggests that
individuals experience collective identity based on their membership in a group
, such as racial/ethnic and gender identities.
This process of favoring one’s in-group happens in three stages:
social categorization, social identification, and social comparison
. (1) People first categorize themselves and others into social groups based on external or internal criteria.
What is the concept of self According to Henri Tajfel and John Turner?
In a complex and fragmented world we need to define our identity – a sense of who we are and where we belong. In 1979 British psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner introduced
the Social Identity Theory
, where our ‘social identity’ within a group shapes our norms, attitudes and behaviour.
Key Takeaways: Social Identity Theory
In-group favoritism can result in negative and discriminatory outcomes
, but research demonstrates that in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination are distinct phenomena, and one does not necessarily predict the other.
An individual’s social identity indicates who they are in terms of the groups to which they belong. … Examples of social identities are
race/ethnicity, gender, social class/socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, (dis)abilities, and religion/religious beliefs
.
Social identity theory can be used in the contexts of multicultural counseling, research, and practice to understand the processes by which individuals develop and maintain social identities and groups. The theory includes three core elements:
social categorization, social identification, and social comparison.
A weaknesses of the Social identity theory is that its
application is restricted in the sense that it has very low ecological validity
. Another weakness is that SIT favors situational factors rather than dispositional is not supported by evidence.
It is
through interaction and community that individuals can perceive the shared task and goal between group members
, which can characterize the shared identity (Wegge & Haslam, 2003). … (2012) argued that individual contributions of group members may contribute to the formation of a social identity.
Social loafing describes
the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group
. Because all members of the group are pooling their effort to achieve a common goal, each member of the group contributes less than they would if they were individually responsible.
Social identification is important
because it influences how people see themselves and how they interact with others
. If people have a positive view of their identity within a group, they are more likely to relate well to others in that group and feel positive emotions about themselves.
Personal identity refers to self-categories which define the individual as a unique person in terms of their individual differences from other
(ingroup) persons. … Social identity refers to the social categorical self (e.g., “us” versus “them”, ingroup versus outgroup, us women, men, whites, blacks, etc.).
For example, when you
compare yourself to your friends you might feel that you are pretty physically fit
. So, you might sign up for a marathon believing that you have the ability to finish with no problem.
Social identity theory was developed as an integrative theory,
as it aimed to connect cognitive processes and behavioral motivation
. Initially, its main focus was on intergroup conflict and intergroup relations more broadly.
Social identity theory focuses on how group memberships guide intergroup behavior and influence an individual’s self-concept. Closely tied to self-categorization is
an individual’s evaluation of the in-group
. To reach positive evaluations of one’s own in-group, people engage in processes of social comparison.
