Social Identity Theory

What are the four concepts that are based off of social identity theory?

1) Social Categorisation 2) Social identification 3) Social comparison 4) Positive distinctiveness

Define Social Identity

A theory proposed by Tajfel and later developed by Tajfel and Turner (1971) to understand intergroup relations and group processes. It is based off the assumption that individuals strive to improve their self-concept by attempting to enhance their self-esteem, based on either personal or social identities.

State the aim and method of Tajfel's study

Aim: To demonstrate the minimal group paradigm in creating group bias. Method: • Students from Bristol were randomly allocated into groups, though they were told it was based off their preference of artwork for Kandinsky or Klee • The participants were told that they were participating in a decision making experiment • The boys individually had to distribute points to in-group and out-group members through a matrix • No face to face contact or communication was allowed

What is positive distinctiveness?

Positive distinctiveness is motivation to show that our in-group is better and more preferable to an out-group. The need for positive distinctiveness generates a positive self-concept.

State the name of the researcher and the name of the methodology used to support the theory.

Researcher: Tafjel et al (Billig) Methodology: Minimal group paradigm

What is Social comparison?

Social identity contributes to our self-image so we seek positive social identities to maintain and enhance self-esteem. We compare our in-group with out-groups of a similar status to enhance thus establish the superiority of our group. Positive social identity is achieved by social comparison.

Evaluate Tajfel's study

Strengths: • Strongly supports the theory • Shows evidence of all four concepts Limitations: • Unusual task in an artificial environment --> Lacks ecological validity • Might have been influenced by demand characteristics of the situation and acted in the way that they thought was expected of them. • Tajfel"s study has reduced this complex psychological phenomenon down to a very simple level, focusing just on minimal groups and performance of a simple experimental task. • Participants can"t be generalised to the wider population • All boys • Same age range & Country Ethics: • Deception • Participants were told it was a study on decision making, when it was actually about group bias • Participants did not give informed consent as they did not know the true aim of the study

Explain the reason for the use of the minimal group paradigm.

Tajfel found that when people are randomly assigned to a group - either by the flip of a coin, the drawing of a coin, the drawing of a number from a hat, or by preference for a previously unknown artist - they see themselves as being similar in attitude and behaviour + automatically think of that group as their in-group and all others as an out-group, therefore a bond is formed among group members, even if they did not know each other before their assignment to the group.

State the results of Tajfel's study

The boys tended to favour in-group members over out-group members, supporting in-group favouritism. Also, they maximised differences between groups (positive distinctiveness), even if it was potentially disadvantageous to their own group. This result strongly suggests that the idea of being in a group is enough to induce own group bias, supporting the minimal group paradigm.

What is Social Categorisation?

The tendency to divide and allocate other individuals into in-groups (us) and out-groups (them)

What is Social identification?

To evaluate our self-concept with the in-group that you are in, adopting their values and behaviours to enhance our self-esteem. There is also the exaggeration of intergroup differences and intragroup similarities.

What are the weaknesses of social identity theory?

• Social comparison to make ingroup superior does not change personal identity • Aim of SIT to favour situational factors rather than dispositional is not supported by evidence • It can be considered as overly simplistic • Although there are a large amount of supporting studies, most are lacking in ecological validity • There are other reasons to explain in-group favouritism such as fear of discrimination

What are the overall strengths of social identity theory?

• Supported by large amount of research • Demonstrates the role of social categorisation in intergroup behaviours • Difference between personal identity and social identity • Contributes to explanation of stereotypes, conformity, how do groups think, etc. • Original SIT has been expanded on