Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory Study Notes
Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory
Authors: Jan E. Stets, Peter J. Burke
Source: Social Psychology Quarterly, Sep 2000, Vol. 63, No. 3, pp. 224-237
Published by: American Sociological Association
Stable URL: JSTOR
Contact: support@jstor.org
Correspondence to: Jan E. Stets, Department of Sociology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4020; e-mail stets@wsu.edu
General Overview of Theories
The need for a general theory of the self that integrates macro and micro processes in social psychology.
Objective: Avoid redundancies in separate theories regarding the self.
Core components examined include:
Different bases of identity (category/group vs. role).
Identity salience and activation.
Cognitive and motivational processes arising from identities.
Proposition: Although differences exist between identity theory and social identity theory, they emphasize different aspects rather than represent fundamentally separate constructs.
Theories can be linked for a more comprehensive view of the self.
Rejection of the notion that theories should be treated as completely separate by emphasizing their overlap.
Three central areas identified for linking the two theories:
Different bases of identity.
Activation of identities and salience.
Core cognitive and motivational processes.
The Concept of Identity
Reflexivity of the self: The self can take itself as an object and categorize itself among various social categories.
**Terminology:
Self-categorization (Social Identity Theory - Turner et al. 1987): How the self categorizes itself.
Identification (Identity Theory - McCall and Simmons 1978): A similar process in identity theory.
Social Identity (Social Identity Theory - Hogg & Abrams 1988): The understanding of belonging to a social category or group, characterized by:
In-group and Out-group definitions based on social comparison processes.
Emotional, evaluative, and psychological components of social identity.
Bases of Identity
Similarities and Differences
Both theories address intergroup relations and how group membership affects identity formation.
Social Identity: Centered on membership uniformity & perspectives among group members. Influences include:
Cognitive outcomes: Social stereotyping and in-group perceptions.
Attitudinal outcomes: Positive evaluations of group membership and commitment.
Behavioral outcomes: Conformity and groupthink dynamics.
Role Identity: Focuses on fulfilling expectations related to roles, using negotiated interactions and differential performances.
Importance of understanding varying meanings and expectations associated with role identities vs in-group and out-group dynamics.
Distinct Processes
Division between group-based identity and role identity:
Group identity focuses on uniformity among members, while role identity focuses on individual differences in interactions.
Social identity theorists examine how individuals see themselves through categories, while role identity theorists emphasize negotiations dependent on role performances in context.
Example Illustrations
Analysis of teacher and student roles within educational structures illustrates the difference between group categorization and the negotiation of roles.
Understanding context for roles (husband-wife dynamics) illustrates that role categorization doesn't always result in distinct in-group/out-group relations.
Activation of Identities and Identity Salience
Salience in Social Identity Theory
Defined as the psychological significance of a group membership (Oakes 1987).
Factors influencing salience:
Accessibility: Readiness of the category based on current tasks and situational context.
Fit: Congruence between stored category specifications and situational perceptions (meta-contrast principle).
Salience in Identity Theory
Salience defined statistically; probability of identity activation based on social structure and individual ties.
Distinction between the probability that an identity will be activated (salience) versus actual activation of the identity in a situation.
Higher commitment results in increased salience.
Cognitive and Motivational Processes
Depersonalization vs. Self-Verification
Depersonalization (Social Identity Theory): Seeing oneself as a representation of in-group standards rather than as an individual.
Associated with social behaviors: cooperation, altruism, etc.
Self-verification (Identity Theory): Consistency with identity standards during role enactments.
Drives behaviors toward maintaining normative expectations; foundational for creating social structures.
Both reflect how social identity informs individual actions within societal contexts.
Motivational Aspects of Identity
Social Identity Theory:
Focus on self-esteem enhancement through aligned behavior in the context of group identity.
Introduction of motives such as collective self-esteem and self-consistency, impacting group behavior.
Identity Theory:
Links self-esteem to efficacy in performing roles and fulfillment of expectations.
Emergence of newer motivational concepts such as self-consistency across role enactment and situational adjustments.
Conclusion
Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory share substantial overlap, despite stylistic differences.
Merging both theories enhances understanding of self as it spans different societal levels (macro, meso, micro).
Future research should explore interrelations of person, role, and group identities and how they influence individual perception, action, and motivational states.