02. Social Identity Theory

The Political Animal

The concept proposed by Aristotle that we are animals who do politics, and the importance of forming group connections.

Dimensions of the Group

The various characteristics that define different types of groups and their functions in social identity, including how they organise and the relationships among their members

• Numbers: family size vs sex

• Longevity: jury vs religion

• Concentration: flight crew vs world leaders

• Structure: army vs crowd of shoppers

• Purpose: assembly line vs teenage gang

• Autocracy/democracy: army vs commune

Categories of Groups

The different classifications of social groups based on shared characteristics, roles, and functions that influence individual identity and behaviour

E.g. common group bonds (family), common identity groups (nationality), social aggregate (people with blue eyes)

Entitativity

The extent to which a group is perceived as a single entity, based on the cohesiveness and relationships among its members. High […] indicates strong ties and a unified identity.

Group Cohesiveness

Solidarity and mutual support within a group

Boyd, et al., (2004)

A study that examined the implications of social identity and group dynamics on cooperative behaviour among diverse social groups.

Contrasted a task involving climate with an ego involving climate.

Found that task involving climate promotes group cohesiveness.

Task Involving Climate

Collaborative, all team members and mistakes are a chance to learn.

Ego Involving Climate

A competitive environment where team members are judged based on individual performance and mistakes are punished.

Stages of Group Socialisation

1. Investigation: people investigate groups, and the group investigates them

2. Socialisation: socialised into the group

3. Maintenance: the person has joined the group and is part of it

4. Negotiation: there may be things that the group does that the person doesn’t agree with, negotiations about this behaviour happens

5. Resocialisation: when negotiations are made, all must adapt to this, whether it is accepted or rejected

6. Remembrance: the group remembers them and perhaps some of the changes they brought, and the person will remember the group

Lauger (2014)

Identified a micro-culture within gangs with its own norms of conduct

Decker et al., (2014)

Investigated the stages of leaving a gang - doubts, considering alternative lifestyles, turning points, and validation after leaving

Group norms

Shared beliefs about appropriate behaviour within a group.

McNeill et al., (2013)

Investigated the norms of medical students. Those who adhered to the norms of staying strong, work hard play hard micro-culture suffered reduced well-being, but identifying as a medical student was beneficial.

Status

Influenced by context, those with high […] have consensual prestige and a tendency to contribute ideas.

Assertiveness, high group orientation, specific characteristics and diffuse characteristics are all factors that contribute to high […].

Marginal Members

Individuals who are disliked by the group, and vilification of these members can increase group cohesion.

Ingroup criticism is taken more seriously than outgroup criticism

Abrams et al., (2014)

Explored non-normative group behaviour in children.

Children 6 or less were unconcerned with non-normative behaviour.

Children 8 and older viewed this non-normative behaviour negatively and expected their friends to feel the same.

Intergroup Behaviour

Categorisation in terms of the group that someone currently belongs to. Shifts to social identity.

Self-categorisation

Assigning yourself to the groups you belong to and the ones you don’t.

Prototype

The ideal group member

Social Identity Frames

Individuals may prioritise different aspects of their identity in various environments.

Realistic Conflict Theory (Sherif, 1966)

12-year-old boys attacked each other for mutually exclusive shared goals, peace was promoted with co-operative tasks and super-ordinate goals.

Commons Dilemma

A game that tests individual's willingness to cooperate with group interests over personal gains.

Tajfel (1971)

Asked arbitrary groups to choose a number from a pair that either favored their own group or another, illustrating in-group bias.

Social Identification Advantages

Intergroup differentiation increases self-esteem, a sense of belonging, and enhanced cooperation among group members.

Improving Social Identity

Strategies that enhance an individual's sense of belonging and self-esteem through positive in-group associations and experiences.

Legitimacy and Stability of the social hierarchy affect whether social creativity or social competition is adopted.

Social Creativity

Hierarchy of groups is seen as legitimate or stable.

Seek new dimensions of comparison, redefine the value of existing dimensions, compare with different outgroups.

Social Competition

Status hierarchy is viewed as illegitimate and unstable, competition among groups for higher status and resources is initiated, often leading to conflict and rivalry.