Prejudice: Social Identity Theory Flashcards
Define Prejudice
A biased belief held about an individual or group prior to direct experience of that person based off stereotypes or group characteristics.
Define Social identity Theory
The view that your behaviour is motivated by your social identity. Tajfel and Turner suggest that humans have a strong desire to ‘belong’ and we derive self esteem through acceptance of others and group membership.
How is social identity determined?
Determined by the various groups of people to which you belong, your ‘ingroups’.
What is Personal Identity based on?
Based on characteristics and achievements.
The Self and the Group
Tajfel and Turner say our self concept is made up of many social identities. These are linked to the social groups we belong to.
Ingroups and outgroups
Ingroup - Group to which we see ourselves as belonging.
Outgroup - Comprises anyone who is not part of the ingroup.
Social Categorisation
Refers to the separation of individuals into one of these two groups.
Tajfel and Turner argue that the existence of an outgroup is enough to bring prejudice.
Social Identification
The individual adopts beliefs, values and attitudes of the groups to which they see themselves belonging. They will also alter behaviour to fit with norms of the group.
Social Comparison: Self Esteem
Individual can boost self esteem through making comparisons between the ingroup and outgroup.
Self esteem is the value attached to your self concept.
Social Comparison: Outcomes of Comparison
Comparisons may not be objective. For example we may perceive the ingroup as superior but exaggerate their success
Whereas outgroups are seen as inferior and their achievements are denigrated and seen as being caused by external factors.
Social Comparison: Ingroup
If ingroups are seen as better, then as an ingroup member, we must also be better. This motivates us to perceive our ingroup in a positive light and this can be enhanced further through seeing the outgroup in bad terms.
Social Comparison: The Quest for Positive Distinctiveness
This is the desire to see the ingroup as different and better.
Differences between groups are emphasised and similarities minimised.
These cognitive processes may lead to discrimination between ingroup and outgroup members, meaning we think and treat them differently.
Strength
Minimal group studies such as Tajfel show how being part of a group is sufficient to lead to prejudice against people not in that in that group
Competing
Minimal groups research by Dobbs and Crano (2001) show that under some circumstances people show much less in-group favouritism than was suggested by early studies like that of Tajfel (1970)
Weakness: Reductionist
Other theories (realistic conflict theory) argue that you need a competition between the two groups in order for prejudice to occur. The prejudice will not occur on its own.
It does not necessarily explain individual differences in prejudice.
