Social Identity Flashcards

Flashcards on Social Identity

Self-categorization

The process of seeing oneself as a member of a social group.

BIRGing (Bask in Reflected Glory)

A way of boosting self-esteem by identifying oneself with the accomplishments or good qualities of fellow in-group members.

BIRGing Cialdini et al. (1976) Study

Students who thought they failed a test were more likely to associate with the winning team ('we') and disassociate from the losing team ('they').

Group Membership and Emotions

Identification with a group makes the group part of the self, thus giving that group emotional significance.

The In-Group Advantage

We believe that fellow in-group members are more similar to us than not.

Perdue et al. (1990) Nonsense Syllable Study

Participants had more positive feelings about nonsense syllables paired with 'we' than with 'they.'

The Out-Group Homogeneity Effect

The tendency to see the out-group as relatively more homogeneous and less diverse than the in-group.

Cross Race Effect

People can recognize faces of their own race more easily than faces of other races.

The Minimal Intergroup Situation

A research situation in which people are categorized, on an arbitrary basis, into groups that have no history, no conflict of interest, and no stereotypes.

Bernstein et al. (2007) Personality Test Study

Participants had better memory for faces that matched their own (randomly assigned) personality type.

Social Identity Theory

People's motivation to derive positive self-esteem from their group memberships is one driving force behind in-group bias and out-group derogation.

Fein & Spencer (1997) Study on Out-Group Derogation

Participants with lowered self-esteem rated a gay actor in negative, stereotypic terms.

Moral Exclusion

Viewing out-groups as subhuman and outside of the domain in which rules of morality apply.

Stigmatized

Negatively evaluated by others; a consequence of belonging to a disliked group.

Stereotype Threat

The fear of confirming others' negative stereotypes about your group.

Steele and Aronson (1995) Stereotype Threat Study

Black participants scored worse on an intelligence test when race was emphasized.

Evaluative Apprehension

Effect produced by performing in front of people who can judge us.

Attributional Ambiguity

Uncertainty about whether mistreatment is due to personal failings or group membership.