Social identity theory prac question answers

• Self-concept


  How we see ourselves
• Social identity


  Part of our self-concept based on our membership in certain groups
• Social identity is who we are based on our membership in certain groups
• Benefits of social categorisation

  • Quicker than interpreting every individual for all their displayed aspects
  • Able to identify social roles in particular situations
• Social identity


  The part of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership to particular social groups
• In-group and out-group


  • Ingroup: the group to which the individual belongs
  • Out-group: the group to which the individual does not belong
• A footballer spectator may support the Eagles, so the other Eagle supporters form the ingroup. The supporters of the other team are the outgroup.
• Making negative comments about the outgroup


  Decreases the positive image of the outgroup
• Decreasing the positive image of the outgroup


  Increases the positive image of the ingroup
• Increasing the positive image of the ingroup


  Enhances the individual's own self-concept
• Advantage of generating stereotypes

  Allows an individual to quickly process large amounts of information and frees up cognitive processing for other tasks
• Stereotypes


  Allow for quick assessment of situations
• Holding negative stereotypes


  Can lead to negative feelings of prejudice towards the stereotyped individual
• Experiencing strong negative feelings or prejudice toward stereotyped individuals

  Can lead to discrimination
• Discrimination


  Engaging in hurtful behaviours toward the stereotyped individuals
• Prejudice


  An unjustifiable and usually negative attitude towards a group and its members
• Intergroup contact reducing prejudice

  1. Bringing members of the ingroup and outgroup in contact

  2. Members interact with each other

  3. Less prejudice about the other group

  4. Breaks down stereotyped negative beliefs
• Social identity theory


  Theoretical framework that suggests how people develop a sense of self in terms of group membership
• Strengths and limitations of social identity theory

  • Strength: explains behaviour where there is a desire to benefit the welfare of others
  • Limitation: fails to explain the affiliation between similar groups
• Function of stereotypes


  Stereotypes allow people to make decisions quickly and easily