Social identity theory

• Salience of Group Membership


  • The degree to which being a member of a particular group is prominent and influential in a given context.
  • When group membership is salient, it significantly affects how we behave, conforming more closely to group norms and expectations.
• Social Identity Theory


  Social Identity Theory (SIT) was proposed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in 1972. It suggests that a person’s sense of who they are is based on their group memberships. These groups can include family, friends, social class, team, and nationality.
• Key Components:


  1. Social Categorization
  2. Social Identification
  3. Social Comparison
• Social Categorization


  • We categorize people (including ourselves) into groups based on shared characteristics.
  • This is like sorting books into different genres in a library.

  Example: Age groups, nationalities, professions, sports teams
• Social Identification

  • We adopt the identity of the group we categorize ourselves as belonging to.
  • It's like putting on a uniform that represents your group.

  Example: A doctor adopting the language, behavior, and ethics associated with the medical profession
• Social Comparison

  • We compare our groups (ingroups) with other groups (outgroups), typically favoring our own.
  • This is similar to how sports fans might compare their team to rival teams.

  Example: Students from one university believing their institution is superior to others
• Key Concepts in SIT:

  1. Ingroups and Outgroups
  2. Positive Distinctiveness
  3. Self-Esteem Hypothesis
• Ingroups and Outgroups


  • Ingroup: The group you identify with
  • Outgroup: Groups you don't identify with
• Positive Distinctiveness


  • The tendency to view our ingroup more favorably than outgroups.
  • It's like wearing team-colored glasses that make your team look better.
• Self-Esteem Hypothesis


  • SIT proposes that we strive for positive social identities to boost our self-esteem.
• Implications of SIT:


  1. Intergroup Behavior: SIT explains why people might discriminate against outgroups.
  2. Stereotyping: It provides a framework for understanding how stereotypes form and persist.
  3. Group Cohesion: SIT helps explain why people stick with their groups, even when it might not be in their individual best interest.