Social identity theory

• Categorisation


  • Deciding which group we belong to
  • Helps us to understand our social environment
  • Create in-groups of those who we belong to
  • Create out-groups of those who we see as different
• Social identification


  • Change our behaviour
  • Adopt identity of categorised group
  • Conform to social norms of group -> helps create self concepts
• Social comparison


  • Giving resources to in-group only (in-group favouritism)
  • Underestimating out-groups (enhance in-group)
  • Exaggerated in-group positive qualities (increasing self esteem)
• Supporting evidence


  • Levine: football fans more likely to help someone supporting their team compared to someone on an opposing team
• Critical evidence


  • Adorno: those with an authoritarian personality are more likely to be hostile to those who aren't in their group
• Evaluation - Weaknesses


  • Individual differences
  • Social control
• Evaluation - Strengths


  • Reductionist
  • Nature-nurture
• Conclusion - High in usefulness


  • Separation of groups could reduce prejudice
• Conclusion - Low in usefulness

  • Groups will naturally occur so cannot always remove prejudice