L6 Taijfel and Turner Social Identity Theory

3. Attitudes and Stereotypes

Social identity theory hypothesis

Group members of an in-group will seek to find negative aspects of an out-group to enhance their self-image.

The in-group will discriminate against the out-group to enhance their self-image

STAGE 1: Social categorisation

Grouping of people based on shaed characteristics

In group vs Out group

In Group

Groups to which an individual perceives membership to 'us'

Out Group

Any group other than the groups to which individuals perceives themselves as belonging to 'them'

STAGE 2: Social identification

Once categorised the individual adopts group norms and group membership becmes part of their social identity.

Social identity becomes linked to group membership. Positive social identity allows for increased self-esteem

Social identity

A person's sense of who they are based on their real or perceived group membership(s)

Group norms

Rules and expectations of behaviours by group members

Self image

Our definition of ourselves

STAGE 3: Social comparison

They begin to compare their ingroup with outergroups.

To maintain self-esteem the ingroup needs to compare favorably against outgroups.

The more prestigous the ingroup the higher the self esteem of its members, we therefore enhance the status of our ingoups/s

Ingroup favouritism

Stage3 - People favour those belonging to their in-group

Negative out-group bias

Stage3 - The in-group will seek to find negative aspects about the outgroup

Strenghts of Social Identity Theory: Group Philanthropy

The theory demonsrates why people empathise with and therefore want to help people like them

Strenghts of Social Identity Theory: Ingroup bias

The theory can exp;ain why people preference people who look or act like them

Limitations of Social Identity Theory: Poor predictive power

The theory does not account for intergroup conflict caused by competition for limited resources

Limitations of Social Identity Theory: Fails to explain group harmony

In a liberal multicultural world order, there is a lot of group harmony that isn't explained by this that runs counter to Tajfel's theory

Real world applications of social identity theory

Accounts for dehumanising of an enemy or immigrants and not allowing them full human status