SCA: Social Identity Theory SAQ (AJW)



Describe social identity theory with reference to one research study. (9)Command term: DescribeWhat does this mean? Give a detailed account.Key content: Self-concept, social selves, self-esteem, sense of belonging, in and out groups, social categorisation, social identification and social comparison, quest for positive distinctiveness, mere existenceChosen study: e.g. Tajfel et al (1970), Sherif et al. (1954): need to briefly cover APFC of the study BUT focus on LINKs to SIT as this is what the question requires.Introduction Tajfel and Turner (1970) developed social identity theory to explain a number of phenomena including intergroup conflict.. The study that I have chosen to use to illustrate this theory is the Robbers Cave Experiment conducted by Sherif et al. (1954) which aimed to reveal…This study involved 22 elven year old middle class Protestant boys from Oklahoma who were divided into two groups, which became known as the Rattlers and the Eagles.Developing your points:Linking the study to the theoryTajfel and Turner start by explaining that our self-concept is up of numerous social selves and they suggest that we have as many social selves as we have social groups to which we see ourselves as belonging. They suggest that our desire to belong is a strong determinant of human behaviour and we are compelled to affiliate ourselves with various social groups in order to enhance out self-esteem.With regard to the boys studied at Robbers Cave, these children would also have had many social selves including, their family, the school they went to, clubs and teams they were on and their church. However when they were removed from everything they knew and placed in the alien environment of Robbers Cave away from home with only strangers for company the desire to belong and become affiliated to a group of allies would have been very strong.Tajfel and Turner indicate that the first part of social identity theory is social categorisation which means seeing ourselves as part of an ingroup and seeing others who do not belong to this ingroup as the outgroup. When we meet a person, they believe that we unconsciously assess the extent to which this person is like us or not like us and that this evaluation then dictates how we behave towards them. T-shirts and flags made to distinguish their group from the others. Could quickly/easily spot who was a Rattler and who was an Eagle.Tajfel and Turner believe that once we have categorised ourselves as member of a certain group we then observe other group members in order to establish the norms for how to behave within this group. We start to identity with other members and adopt the beliefs, values and attitudes of the group to which we see ourselves as belonging. We may change our appearance and behaviour to gain acceptance by group with the understanding that deviating from group norms may result in rejection. Development of ingroup norms, e.g. cussing, acting tough, crying, praying and nude swimming.In order to further enhance our self-esteem, social comparison may ensure, meaning that we favour ingroup members, perceiving them in a positive light, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Outgroup members will be treated less favourably and potentially with hostility. Their achievements will be denigrated and attributed to chance or situational factors whereas their failures will be emphasised and seen as being due to dispositional factors.Findings of the study linked to verbal and physical aggression, the beans task, ratings of in and outgroup members.Tajfel and Tuner uses the term quest for positive distinctiveness to explain the way in which group members develop a shared identity for the group which sets them apart from non-members and casting all members of a positive light. It is this act of distancing one-self from others, the ‘not like mes’, in order to enhance one’s self-knowledge which can lead to prejudice and discrimination and thus the mere existence of an outgroup can be enough to bring about prejudice and discrimination.Mere existence is supported by the fact they wanted a contest to show who was best as soon as they discovered there was another group of boys on the campsite. ................
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